HIBRARY OF CONGRESS, i 



\^k 



Uta? .^:.^ Iw^'l" t 

I M./f.M.l \ 

^ |) 

I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. | 




CHARLES F. HOLDEN. 
HENRY REICHE. CHARLES REICHE. 



HOLDEN'S 



BOOK ON BIRDS, 



BY 

CHARLES F. HOLDEN. 

SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED. 



" If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it." — Fuller. 
" Little dewdrops of celestial melody." — Carlyle. 

" I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know 
less.' — Sir Thomas Browne. .,,---^"'*~~'~>-^ 

I ■•' 1S73 „V> 



PUBLISHED BY -J 

CHARLES REICHE AND BROTHER, 

55 Chatham Street, New York, 
9 BovvDoiN Square, Boston. 

MDCCCLXXIII. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, 

By CHARLES F. HOLDEN, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washin^on. 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 



Boston : 
Rand, Averv, & Co., Stereotypers and Printers. 




CONTENTS. 











PAGE. 




PAGE. 


Preface . 


. 


6 


Cut-throat 


6S 


Introduction 




IX 


Celestial .... 


6S 


Advice to Purchasers 




77 


Cuba .... 


64 


Avadavat . 




62 


Cause of Disease . 


20 


Amandava 


. 


64 


Colds .... 


20, 21 


Australian Paroquets 




56 


Costiveness 


22 


For treatment, see 


Parrot 


53 


Claws, require cutting 


24 


Ants' Eggs 




43 


Caged Prisoner 


79 


Appetite, loss of 




24 


Cracked Corn . 


71 


Aldom's Spring Perch, 






Cracked Wheat 


71 


end of book 


and 81 


Cannon, Birds fire . 


76 


Aquarium, end of book 




" 81 


Cleansing Brass Cages 


82 


Artificial Mo;her, end of book 


" 81 


Crowley,"David 


71 


Adams's Express 




72 


Cage, one suitable . 


80 


Breeding, Establishment of C 




Diamond Sparrow . 


65 


Reiche , 




. 18 


Diarrhoea .... 


22, 45 


Bulfinch . 








32 


Dogs, Diseases and Training 




Black-Cap 








3S 


end 


f book 


Blackbird . . 








4I 






Brazilian Cardinal 








57 


Egg-bound 


22 


Bobolink . 








47 


Egg-paste 


21 


Bishop-finch . 








67 


Epilepsy .... 


24 


Banded Finch . 








64 


Eggs, Price of . . end c 


f book 


Bird-Lice 








23,45 


Express, Safety of . 


71 


Best Singers . 








79 






Bird-Seed 








69 


Fire-Bird .... 


50 


Bird-Cages 








80 


Fire-Finch 


64 


Breeding Cages 








27 


Fascinated Finch 


65 


Bird Call . 








74 


Finches for Aviary . 


62 


Birds' Prison-life 








79 


Female Canary, will mate with 
Food for Birds . 


27 
26 


Canary 








17 


Fountain . . end 


fbook. 


Canary, Longbreed 








30 






Cardinal Bird . 








47 


Goldfinch 


31,34 


Cardinal Brazilian 








57 


GoldfincTi Mules . 


35 


Chaffinch . . 








30, 37 


Goldfinch Diseases . 


35 


Courdon Bluefinch 








62 


Grosbeak, Rose-breasted. 


49 



CONTENTS. 



Grosbeak, Cardinal . 
German Rape-seed . 
Guntlier, G. 
Gravel Paper (Singers) 
Good behavior . 



47 
. . 69 
end of book 



75 



Hatching-Birds ... 28 

Handsome Birds, how raised . 26 
Hartz Mountains ... 18 
Hemp-Seed .... 69 
Hildreth and Rice . end of book 

Indigo-Bird . . . . 48 
Indian Sparrow ... 65 
Indian Silver-bill ... 63 
Insects for soft-bill Birds . . 43 
Incubator . . . end of book 



Java Sparrow . 

Lark, Sky and Wood 
Linnet, Gray or Green 
Linnet, Red . 
Little Doctor (finch) 
Loss of voice . 
Lice on Birds . 
Lindeman's Cages . 
Ladies' Dress . 



. . S8 

39 

• 30, 36 

51 
65 
21 

• 23, 45 
end of book 

79 



Mocking-bird .... 42 
Magpie-finch .... 65 
Moulting, when a bird should . 23, 29 
Mating Birds , . . . 26, 28 
Mating Fever . . . . 25, 45 
My Bird is Sick ... 20 
Mockingbird-Seed ... 43 
Maw-Seed .... 70 
Meal Worms, how raised. . 44 



Nightingale 
Nonpareil . 
Negro Finch . 
Nun 

Osborn's Cages 



end of book 



Parrot, Gray and Green . 

" Yellow-head 

" Suitable food 

" Pulling out Feathers . 

" Diarrhoea 

" Sore -feet 

** Lice and Fits 
Paroquets, for Treatment, see 

Parrot. 
Paradise Whydah Bird . 
Patience in Training . , 
Paddy-seed .... 



Postage on Seed 
Poor Luck with Birds 

Queen Island Finch 
Quaker Finch . 

Raising Birds . 

Robin Redbreast (English) 

Robin (American) . 

Robin, Golden 

Red Bird . 

Rockhampton Finch 

Red-tail . 

Ringing a Bell . . 



Song most admired . 
Siskin . . , 
Song-Sparrow . 
Sparrow, Java . 
Sparrow, English 

Poem on . 
Starling . 
Spotted-sided Finch 
Saffron 
Silver-bill 

St. Helena Wax-bill 
Spice-bird 
Sexual Desire . 
Selecting Birds 
"Smothering" Birds 
Seed for Birds . 

" Sicily Canary 

" German Rape 

" Hemp . 

Millet . 

'* Maw, or Poppy 

" Paddy. 

" Cracked Com 

" " Wheat 

Spring Perch . 
Singe? s Gravel Paper 



Temperature for a Bird 
Troopial, South American 
Thrush, Song , 
Taming Birds . 
Training " 
Teaching " 

Virginia Nightingale 

Waxbill . 
Wrapping up Birds . 

Young Birds • 
Yellow-birds 
Your Bird-store 



71 
23 

64 
63 

25 

40 
49 
50 
47 
64 
63 
77 

19 

3h 37 
50 
58 
S8 

60, 61 
42 
65 
64 
63 
62 
63 
19 
77 
82 
69 
69 
69 
69 
71 
70 
70 
71 
71 



end of book 

21 

1,56 
41 
73 
73 
73 



47 




CONTENTS OF APPENDIX. 





PAGE. 




PAGE. 


Birds will not Bathe 


85 


Nightingale 


. 87 


" Desert their Young 


. 86 


Swollen and Sore Limbs 


. 89 


" Brought up by Hand 


86 


Sky and Wood Lark 


. 88 


" Bristle up 


. 84 


Scales on Limbs . 


. 89 


" Bathe whilst mated 


. 87 


Sparrow, English . 


88 


Bird-Lime 


90 


Sore Feet 


. 84 






Saifron .... 


90 


Eggs, Birds eat them 


. 85 










Trapping Birds 


. 89 


Feathers oflf Head . 


. 83 


Trap-Cage 


. 90 




PREFACE. 



There are few persons who have not, during 
some portion of their lives, nourished and cherished 
a pet of some kind ; and birds, from their elegant 
and beautiful coloring, the graceful ease of their 
flight, their beautiful music, their tender solicitude 
for their young, their susceptibility of domestication, 
and engaging instincts, have for ages attracted the 
universal attention of the human family; and to 
those who treat them kindly they become greatly 
attached, and manifest much affection, and without 
doubt stand foremost of the entire range of ani- 
mated nature. 

To those who love these, " God's joyous warblers," 
the succeeding pages of this book are dedicated. 
If the bird-fancier of mature years or the younger 
student in ornithology can find one new idea, or if 
our little caged prisoner can be made more happy, 

6 



PREFACE. 7 

or the causes of its illness removed, or' the prop- 
agation of caged birds be reduced to a satisfactory 
result, — then the work of the author has not been 
in vain. 

The publication of this book has been in the 
author's mind for many years ; and it is now placed 
before the public, not with the finish of the classical 
scholar, but of as an every-day affair of life. In 
its arrangement, I do not claim to have consulted 
any authors, either ancient or modern, and believe 
the pages devoted to the mocking-bird and parrot 
to be the first treatment ever written on these much- 
loved and universally-kept birds. 

Before closing these prefatory remarks, I would 
embrace the opportunity here offered to thank the 
numerous admirers of the " bird family " with whom 
I have been brought into business relations during 
the last three years for their admiration of the 
feathered pets intrusted to my care, and would 
modestly, suggest the hope that their interest may 
ever continue. 

To the gentlemen of the press in Boston and the 
New-England States, I am under obligations that 
cannot easily be set aside. Had it not been for their 
earnest efforts in behalf of the 

** Little dewdrops of celestial melody," 



8 PREFACE. 

my efforts would have indeed been futile. It is a 
pleasure for me to here publicly express the in- 
debtedness under which I am placed, and to beg 
that they will, one and all, accept the heartfelt 
thanks of 

THE AUTHOR. 





PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



It is scarcely two months since the author pre- 
sented to the public the results of his labors. He 
then printed an edition of five thousand copies ; and, 
being thus early called upon for a second edition, he 
embraces this opportunity to revise, where revision is 
necessary, the text of his first work. 

There have been many additions made, which will 
be found in the Appendix. These additions have 
been, in part, suggested by those who have consulted 
the first edition ; and the author, in returning his 
thanks for such assistance, cannot refrain from ex- 
pressing the great satisfaction afforded him by the 
conviction that the work has filled a place in the 
niche of natural history that has for so long a time 
been only partially filled. The lovers of the feath- 
ered creation have shown their appreciation of his 
efforts, and their admiration of the wonderful works 



10 PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. 

of God, by the constantly-increasing demand and 
extended inquiries in regard to the peculiarities of the 
various birds of song and plumage. 

The departure made by the author, in his first 
edition, in not following all previous writers, by 
giving uninteresting scientific descriptions of the 
various birds, has met the full approval of the 
public. 

While he will ever respect and admire the writings 
of Wilson, Audubon, Samuels, and other American 
ornithologists, and read with reverence the writings 
of those eminent German naturalists, Bartlett, Dr. 
Brehn, Reiche, Bodinus, Cabanis, Cronan, Finsch, 
Geoffroy, Girtanner, Grassner, A von Homeyer, Adolf, 
and Carl Miiller, Bekemans, and very many others, 
still, at the present time, in this fast American age, 
the public desire results condensed to the fewest 
possible words ; and, if the author has succeeded in 
giving to the demand just what it desired, then his 
wish has been fully realized. 

The book is now presented to the bird-lovers of 
America ; and the author has reasons for believing 
that all information ever desired in regard to cage- 
birds can be found within its pages. 

Boston, September, 1873. 








INTRODUCTION 



The author has studiously avoided in this work 
the habit, or error, of all other authors on works of 
a similar character, — of copying bodily from Bech- 
stein and other European authors ; and as this error 
has been repeatedly made, and the history of the 
discovery of the canary-bird, &c., told so many 
times, this Introduction will bring before the public 
Messrs. Charles and Henry Reiche, to whom 
every portion of the civilized world is indebted for 
birds of song from foreign countries as well as its 
own. 

In the spring of 1842, Mr. Charles Reiche ven- 
tured to export birds from Germany to America, it 
being the first enterprise of the kind that had ever 
been undertaken. Of course they had to be sent 
in a sailing-vessel ; and the voyage lasted several 
months, landing the first importation of canaries 
that ever reached America, in quantity sufiicient 
to call it an importation, at New Orleans. But the 

II 



12 INTRODUCTION. 

taste for foreign, and especially German, singing- 
birds was as yet only shared by a few ; and it re- 
quired the most strenuous exertions to dispose of 
this first lot of one thousand. 

There were no cages to be had, and there was a 
great scarcity of bird-food : the people did not know 
how to treat them, and failed to appreciate their 
music ; but it required only a few years to change all 
this, and the fashion of keeping singing-birds is now 
universal and constantly increasing. 

In 1843 the second exportation of birds was made ; 
part being landed in Charleston, S.C., and part in 
New-York City. This was a successful operation ; 
and in 1846 Mr. Charles Reiche associated with 
him his brother Henry, and the business of export- 
ing birds began to be carried on in a strictly system- 
atic manner, and was encouraged by a constantly- 
increasing sale. 

In 1849 ttie first large lot of birds was landed in 
Boston j and the formerly well-known bird-store in 
Scollay's Building was opened by Mr. Henry Reiche, 
who, after a most successful business, sold out to the 
late well-known Henry Bradshaw, who for so many 
years dealt in baked beans, birds, doughnuts, cages, 
soft-bottom apple-pies, and bird-seed, in a stall ad- 
joining the fish department in Quincy Market. 

In 1852 the now well-known Mr. Henry Reiche, 
of 55 Chatham Street, New York, made his first trip 
to California^ via the Old Nicaragua Route, start- 
ing with an invoice composed in part of canaries, 
goldfinches, and bulfinches, the total value of the 



INTRODUCTION. ' 1 3 

shipment being thirteen hundred and fifty dollars. 
After all kinds of ill-luck, and the discouraging ad- 
vice of his brother Charles, some eight years his 
senior, who looked upon the speculation as one that 
must prove a total loss, he, neither discouraged nor 
disheartened, started on his (then a long) journey, 
and reached California with half the number of birds 
he started with, — a stranger and in a strange land. 
But imagine his surprise and delight at hearing his 
name called out from a window in the Bank of 
California by a clerk, formerly an old resident of 
Boston, who, after the ordinary congratulations, 
told him "he had struck gold." And indeed it so 
proved, for none of his birds were sold for less than 
twenty dollars, many for a much larger sum ; and, 
losing but one steamer, he returned to New York, 
and counted out to his brother over five thousand 
dollars in gold. This cash was then as much to 
them as is fifty thousand dollars to-day: it gave 
them their first start in business in a large way. 

In 1853 there were 10,000 birds imported; in 
i860, 15,000 ; in 1865, 30,000 ; and the imports since 
July, 1872, of canaries alone, amount to 65,000. 
And, when it is known that the total number raised 
for the American market cannot exceed 95,000, it 
leaves the house of Reiche the bird-dealers for 
America. And it is not canaries alone, but all 
other kinds of European birds of song and plumage, 
which were imported this bird-year, 1872-73, to the 
number of 15,000. 

The greatest drawback to the Messrs. Reiche in 



14 ' INTRODUCTION. 

their early days was to find cages of any kind, much 
more those of a suitable kind. Mr. G. Gunther of 
New-York City was the first man who could be in- 
duced to make a cage. He was finally persuaded, 
and is now one of the largest, as well as the oldest, 
manufacturers in the country. His japanned cages, 
as well as his recently-improved brass cages, are 
found on sale in all parts of the United States. 
This cage business has become of such immense 
dimensions, that several large firms are constantly 
engaged in their manufacture, employing hundreds 
of operatives, and using a capital of nearly a quarter 
of a million of dollars. The most prominent ones 
are Messrs. O. Lindeman & Co. and the Osborn 
Manufacturing Company, whose unique brass cages 
are always found in all well-kept bird and house- 
furnishing-goods stores ; the American Cage Co., 
Messrs. Maxheimer & Co., besides several others, all 
of whom carry on the business in New- York City, and 
whose business-cards will be found in the back part 
of this book. 

But it is not the trade with birds in North America 
alone that has attracted their attention ; for, aside 
from the thousands annually sold in Germany, many 
thousands each year find their way to England and 
Russia, and quite as many are every year exported 
to South America, to the Indies, and Australia ; so 
that from 200,000 to 250,000 canary-birds are ex- 
ported from Germany to trans-oceanic ports every 
year. 

In the month of January, 1873, Mr. Henry Reiche 



INTRODUCTION. I5 

sent, in charge of several competent men, a car- 
load of birds, and cages to Salt Lake, Denver Cit}^ 
and other places in that vicinity ; and, aside from 
his early California experience, these were the first 
birds that were ever shipped west of the Mississippi 
River. 

Messrs. Reiche may well look back with pride 
at the time when they first commenced business ; 
the base of their operations being St. Petersburg:, 
Russia. Since that time they have sent birds to 
Lisbon, Rome, Turkey, Cape-Town, Bombay, Cal- 
cutta, Singapore, Pekin, Melbourne, Sydney, and 
other prominent places in the Eastern Hemisphere ; 
and to Lima, Peru, Rio Janeiro, Venezuela, and 
other places in South America ; as well as to the 
more prominent points in the West Indies ; and 
from all of which places, not omitting Japan, they 
have always brought back beautiful birds. 

These two brothers have made three trips round 
the world ; and the elder one, Mr. Charles Reiche, 
is now, and has been since 1858, permanently 
located at Alfeld, Germany ; and Mr. Henry Reiche, 
widi a sufficient accumulation of this world's goods,, 
makes his permanent home in New York. He is 
at No. 55, Chatham Street, daily; and his frequent 
companions during the winter and early spring are 
the great showmen of America, who are constantly 
importing animals through this firm, who are the 
only animal-dealers in America. 

Without offering an apology for the seeming 
length of this Introduction, the author feels that 



i6 



INTRODUCTION. 



those who have been so instrumental in making 
many firesides happy are at least entitled to suffi- 
cient prominence to record, for the first time, the 
important part they have taken in supplying to the 
world " God's sweet and joyous warblers." 




*"^^^r^ 




The Canary 



The original home of this bird is the Canary 
Islands, where, in the later part of the fifteenth 
century, they were wont to breed on the banks of 
the island rivulets, and would have continued so to 
do, had not bird-catchers (there were bird-catchers 
even in those days) trapped them, and sent them to 
various parts of Europe, mostly, however, into Ger- 
many, where, as you have been informed in the 
Introduction, they have been massed, and exported 
to all parts of the habitable globe. And we might 
with truth say, that, among the musicians who come 
to our shores to charm us with their notes, the 
largest orchestra is that of the singing-birds. They 
ask very little of our money, and never demand a 
Music Hall as the only theatre worthy their per- 
formance. A few dollars will buy one of these 
sweet singers, and a few more will build or buy 
a Music Hall for its performances. It charges 

2* 17 



I 8 THE CANARY. 

nothing for its singing, and is not fastidious as to its 
accommodations, carolling just as sweetly in the 
attic of the tired sewing-woman as in the* boudoir 
of the fashionable lady. It becomes a friend to the 
lonely, and a comforter to such as are in trouble. 
From his cage, as well as from the wildwood, it 
sings of the love and care of Him without whose 
knowledge not one of its feathered friends can fall 
to the ground. Like flowers, birds are a beautiful 
gift to a friend, v/ith this advantage over them, — 
they live longer, and, by their constant voice, recall to 
mind the giver. Very few persons have any idea of 
the trade carried on in these frail wares between 
our own and foreign countries ; and how few of our 
readers that are the possessors of some favorite 
songster ever gave a moment's thought to where 
they come from or how they came ! We refer now 
to that established, universal favorite, the canary. 
Reader, let me take you across the Atlantic to Ger- 
many, to a famous place called the Hartz Moun- 
tains. And -now that you are here with us, we v/ill 
take you to the immense breeding-establishment of 
Mr. Charles Reiche, which, in its arrangements, is 
similar to all other establishments. Here you will 
observe a quantity of rooms arranged very much 
after the style of the sleeping-apartments of a hotel. 
Each of the rooms is properly furnished with light, 
ventilation, a quantity of small trees, feeding-boxes, 
water for bathing and drinking, and on the sides of 
the room a quantity of nests, and the floor covered 
with fine sand to the depth of three or more inches. 



THE CANARY. I9 

In this room are placed twenty or more male birds, 
and three times their number of females ; and from 
this large feminine family every male chooses his 
mate, — and, reader, don't blush, for some of them 
choose even three and four mates, — all of which will 
hatch their young peacefully, and live one large, 
happy family together. The young birds (males) are 
taken at the age of six weeks, as they can then crack 
seed (and we will here remark, that, when they are 
fully feathered, they commence to warble ; that is, 
they fill their throats in the same manner as an old 
singing-bird : and this is the only way that male birds 
can be told from females when so very young), and 
placed in large cages, say twenty-five birds to a 
cage, and kept in rooms (these rooms hold about 
twenty such cages) until they are through moulting ; 
for a young bird, as soon as he is in full feather, 
commences to moult, or shed his body feathers : his 
tail and wing feathers he sheds the second season. 
This moulting process requires about six weeks, after 
which they are taken into a room away from the 
sound of all singing canaries, this room only having 
a small opening in the top ; and in the room above 
them there is kept a nightingale, skylark, or some 
other fine whistling bird, the best of his species, 
who acts as instructor for the young birds ; and it is 
from this instructor that they get these beautiful 
notes, the bow-trill, the bell-note, the flute, the 
water-note, &c., which are so much admired. At 
the age of six months they become adepts at sing- 
ing, and are then taken to the immense warehouse 



20 CARE OF CANARY. 

of Charles Reiche & Bro., situated at Alfeld, Ger- 
many, and placed in the little willow cages seen 
in all bird-stores, seven birds in a row or string. 
They are then placed in boxes or crates, four rows 
wide and six rows high, or a hundred and sixty- 
eight birds to a crate. They are then sent, in charge 
of a competent man, — who ordinarily takes twelve 
hundred birds, — overland to Bremen or Hamburg, 
and then shipped to the New- York house of Charles 
Reiche & Bro., located at 55 Chatham Street. The 
birds are cleaned, fed, and watered every day. And 
for this ocean business the Messrs. Reiche keep no 
less than eighteen men constantly employed. 

The very general desire of the public to know 
how to take the best possible care of their pets, and 
the wish of the whole bird-trade for a treatise that 
could be implicitly relied upon, free from all the 
scientific attainments so freely shown in large works, 
and at a popular price, has led the author to publish 
what has been his own experience through a num- 
ber of years. 

First, we will commence with sick birds and their 
treatment. " My bird is sick : what shall I do for 
it?" This question is asked at the bird-stores times 
without number daily ; and it is just as easy an- 
swered, without knowing nhat ails the bird, as it is 
for a physician to prescribe accurately for a disease 
when simply informed that a member of the family 
is sick, " and please send up some medicine at 
once." 

The Cause of most Disease is colds, which are 



LOSS OF VOICE. 21 

occasioned by either hanging a bird in a draught of 
air, near a loose-fitting window, or keeping him in a 
very hot room (sixty degrees is the proper tempera- 
ture for a bird) through the day, and then in a cool 
one at night, — a variation of perTiaps forty degrees 
in twenty-four hours. This cold, if not cured at 
once, leads to asthma, and from that to a disease 
known as the gapes. The best cure for the cold is 
to feed, in addition to their regular seed, rape and 
canary (no hemp), a paste made from a hard-boiled 
egg and one pulverized cracker, thoroughly mixed 
together, the same as you feed to birds when sitting. 
Sometimes a bird seems hoarse, and apparently has 
Lost his Voice. — This is occasioned by over- 
singing : a little pure rock-candy, not flavored, dis- 
solved in the drinking-water, and a few kernels of 
red pepper put into the paste described above, will 
usually effect a cure. If, however, the cold is al- 
lowed to remain for several days without any atten- 
tion or cure, it will pass rapidly from cold to asthma, 
and from that to gapeSj which is best described by 
saying that the bird looks like a little puff-ball, with 
a constant panting, and his bill almost constantly 
opening and shutting, as if to catch breath. His 
food should be the same as described above. Many 
bird-fanciers have given small pieces of salt-pork with 
a very little red pepper thereon, and with beneficial 
effect. Messrs. Charles Reiche & Bro., however, 
can say, that, with nearly forty years' experience as 
bird-fanciers, importers, and dealers, they have, as 
yet, never found a cure for this disease. 



22 DIARRHOEA. — EGG-BOUND. 

Birds troubled with a Diarrhcea can be greatly 
relieved, and many times a permanent cure effected, 
by placing a ru^ty nail in their drinking-water ; and, 
should a bird be ^troubled with the reverse of this 
complaint, — costiveness, — apiece of sweet apple, a 
little chickweed, lettuce, or any green food, will usually 
afford full relief. Most ailments of birds commence 
with a cold ; and the old adage of the " ounce of 
prevention," &c., is peculiarly applicable to the bird 
family. 

Dealers in birds are constantly visited by owners 
of feathered pets to seek information on a subject 
to which their human instinct should furnish the 
answer. This is particularly the case in breeding- 
season ; and a question asked daily is, — 

" My Bird is Egg-bound : what shall I do for it ? " 
A few questions from the dealer reveals the fact that 
the female has been fed upon diy seed and food of 
a clogging nature ; and the information given at once 
is, Feed your bird some green stuff or a piece of 
apple, thereby loosening it (which should have been 
done before mating), and, carefully taking the bird 
out, rub the passage gently with warm sweet-oil". 
At times birds are egg-bound from having taken 
cold : should this be the case, apply also the reme- 
dies for a cold. 

Birds, when proper care is taken of them, are 
rarely attacked with disease. If owners of feathered 
pets would first see that the cage is perfectly clean 
and well supplied with plenty of gravel or gravel- 
paper for the bird to pick upon, and that the seed 



LICE. — MOULTING. 2^ 

is of the very best quality, and that they are fed and 
jiven a bath at a regular hour daily, — then your 
birds, if kept from draughts of air, and no trash, such 
as sugar, candy, figs, raisins, cake, &c., fed them, will 
sing from ten to eleven months out of the year, 
which they always do with the poor families in Ger- 
many, who find it impossible to get such luxuries. 
It is only the wealthy and better classes that have so- 
cftlled "poor luck with birds." And why? Because 
they kill them with kindness, — though it is very un- 
kind to the bird, — never, never by neglect. 

One source of great annoyance to a bird and 
also to his owner is the 

Little Red Bird-lice. — Messrs. Reiche now put 
up a powder which can be sprinkled on the bottom 
of the cage, and effectually rid the bird of these 
annoying pests. It is put up in envelopes, and will 
be sent to any address by mail, prepaid, on receipt 
of twenty-five cents. 

Another way to rid the bird of them is to place at 
night a white towel on top of the cage ; and, when 
you arise in the morning, you will find it well cov- 
ered. These should be shaken into the stove, and 
the same thing repeated every night ; and in two 
weeks, at farthest, you will be entirely free from 
them. 

A question often asked is, — 

When should a Bird moult ? — Most birds shed 
their feathers in the months of September and Oc- 
tober ; and though it is perfectly natural for them so 
to do, still the operation is accompanied with a 



2% BIRDS CLAWS. — LOSS OF APPETITE. 

slight disease. They should be fed on the soft paste 
before described ; and, as they are not well covered 
with feathers, great care should be taken to keep 
them out of all draughts of air, but kept where it 
is comfortably warm. With these precautions, a 
bird will fully moult in from four to six weeks. 
Should a bird not shed his wing and tail feathers 
readily, it is well to pull them oitt, — pulling, how- 
ever, only one at a time. 

It often happens that a 

Bird's Claws grow very long, and require cut- 
ting. This is a particular operation ; and care should 
be taken not to cut up into the blood-veins, which 
can be easily seen by holding the bird's claw in 
front of a strong light, and then not cutting within 
at least a sixteenth of an inch of the red vein. 

Occasionally a canary is troubled with epilepsy. 
A sure cure for this has never been discovered. 
The author has taken a bulfinch and other birds af- 
fected, and cut the birds' claws, — one on each foot, 
— just sufficient to draw the blood, and, holding the 
foot in warm (not hot) water until the blood ceased 
to flow; then a slight sprinkling — with the hand — 
with cold- water : feeding only on rape-seed which 
had been previously soaked in water, and a liberal 
supply of apple and green-stuff, as recommended 
above, has generally effected a cure. 

During and after moulting, and sometimes after 
breeding, a bird will seem to have 

Lost his Appetite. — At such times, it is well to 
give a very little hemp, and all the millet-seed a 



MATING FEVER. — RAISING BIRDS. 25 

bird will eat ; and, if convenient, change the loca- 
tion of his cage to a more cheerful place. 

From the 14th of February to the middle of May, 
all birds have what is known as the 

Mating Fever. — This fever, or sexual desire, is 
the strongest during the latter part of April and 
early in May ; and, if not mated, they sit moping 
v/ith ruffled feathei^, cease singing entirely, refuse 
their food, and often, in their silent sorrow, pine 
away and die. If their attention can be diverted 
from this " lovesickness,"'it should always be done. 
The better cure is to mate your bird. If this is 
inconvenient, place him in the cheerful sunlight, 
tempt him with dainty morsels of food, talk and 
whistle to him ; and, if you have a friend who owns 
a bird, let your bird visit him, and cheerful company 
will soon restore him ; or a better way still is to 
leave him at a well-kept bird-store. 

These comprise about all the diseases that the 
canary is subject to ; and we will here state, that all 
of the family of seed-eating birds have about the 
same ailments, and require similar treatment. 

As many who own birds have a desire to breed 
them, a little information may- not be amiss to the 
new beginner. 

Americans raise Birds 'wholly for pleasure ; 
and it certainly is a pleasure. What greater amuse- 
ment can be furnished children, and, in fact, chil- 
dren of a larger growth, than the mating and 
rearing of a nest of beautiful young canaries ; to 
watch the busy weavers make their nest; the 
3 



26 TO RAISE A HANDSOME BIRD. 

constant care and attention given to it by the moth' 
er-bird during the season of " sitting," who is so regu- 
larly relieved by her loving mate, who ever and anon 
covers the eggs while she is seeking food or rest ? 
Alas ! our little canary-bird has taught many a les- 
son to the human family ; and the constancy of a 
bird to its mate is rarely equalled by the lords of 
creation. 

In mating Birds, a young male and old female 
produce mostly male birds ; and those of about the 
same age produce about equal proportions of both 
males and females. 

The food for your birds, in addition to their regu- 
lar canary and rape seed, — no henip^ — should be the 
following: one hard-boiled &gg — the wdnole ^gg — ■ 
grated on a coarse horseradish grater, and one 
common soft cracker, rolled fine with a rolling-pin, 
or carefully grated, and then mixed together, 
and fed to the birds in small quantities at least 
twice per day ; and this food must be continued 
to the old birds until you are through breeding; 
and the same food must be continued to the 

Young Birds until they can crack seed, which 
they can do with ease at the age of six weeks. It 
is, however, an advantage to soak some rape-seed, 
and put it in for the young birds as soon as they 
leave the nest. 

To PRODUCE A HANDSOME YELLOW BiRD, your male 
should be a Jonquil, which is a deep-yellow bird 
with almost an orange crown, and the female a 
mealy bird, which is a whitish yellow, and has the 



MATING BIRDS. 2/ 

appearance of being frosted or powdered all over. 
A clear yellow male and a mealy female will usually 
produce a pure yellow bird ; while a clear yellow 
male mated with a gray or green female will usually 
produce a very hands'ome mottled bird. A deep yel- 
low or orange-colored male with a very dark-green 
female often produces the highly-prized cinnamon 
bird. 

A Female Canary will mate with the foUov/- 
ing birds, and produce a very beautiful songster, 
which is known as a mule, — the linnet, goldfinch, 
bulfinch, siskin, our native bobolink, indigo bird, 
and other birds of a similar size ; and the male 
from these birds is ^■ery highly prized on account of 
his beauty and song. 

A suitable cage for breeding can be either of 
wood, wired, or the ordinary japanned tin cage, or 
brass. Should you use an old wooden cage, it 
should be thoroughly scalded with hot soda-water, 
to kill all vermin, and then varnished over. The 
birds should have a nest — wire is the best — se- 
curely fastened into one corner of the cage, first 
covering the nest with canton, or cotton and wool 
flannel, and hung up against the wall, at least a foot 
above your head, and in a southern aspect if possi- 
ble, and not moved until you are through breeding 
for the season. There should always be placed in 
the cage, from a wall of some very old building that 
is being torn down, a piece of mortar to make egg- 
shells from, as, without this, the female would lay 
soft-shell eggs. 



28 HOW HATCHED. 

Another question often asked at bird-stores is, 

•'How DO YOU MATE A PaIR OF BiRDS ? " The 

reader is supposed to own a male canary. ■ If such 
supposition be true, then go to a first-class bird- 
store, and buy a female canary and breeding-cage ; 
and the very best way to mate a pair of birds is to 
place the female in the breeding-cage and hang it 
up on one side of the room ; and, leaving the male 
bird in his cage, hang him up on the other side, and 
within sight of her. If he sings and calls to her, 
and she calls back in return, as much as to say, 
"May I come in yowr cage?" then you can put 
them together ; and, though they may quarrel at first, 
this will be only of short duration, and they will 
very soon mate. 

After mating your birds, a period of only seven 
to eight days elapses before the female commences 
to lay ; and she will lay from four to seven eggs, 
one each day, at about the same hour, and sit upon 
them for thirteen days, v/hen the operation of hatch- 
ing commences ; and the 

Birds are hatched One each Day, until all 
the eggs are hatched. If it should happen that one 
or more eggs remain in the nest, and do not hatch 
at the proper time, it would be well to take them 
(the eggs) out of the nest carefully, using for this 
purpose a teaspoon, so as not to handle the eggs, 
and hold them before a strong light ; and, if there 
is the appearance of blood-veins in the egg, place it 
back carefully ; for it may yet be hatched. If, upon 
the other hand, the egg be clear and transparent, it 



DOES A YOUNG BIRD MOULT? 



29 



can be thrown away as worthless. It is a rule in 
Europe to never throw away an egg until it has 
been laid at least twenty-one days. 

From the time the young birds are born, the male 
bird helps feed them, if he is a good father, and so 
partially relieves the' female. If he should at times 
seem quarrelsome with his mate, or show ^00 much 
attention of a loving kind to her, it would be well to 
separate them, putting him in his own cage until the 
young birds are nearly feathered, when, after they 
have perched a few nights, they can be removed to 
other cages, and the male returned, and another 
brood raised ; and the same operation repeated. 
Cases have been known of raising seven broods in 
a season. 

We are often asked the question, — 
" Does a Young Bird moult t " — Our answer is, 
Yes, A youi^ bird is usually in full feather at the 
age of six weeks (we will here state, that, when he 
is four weeks old, he will swell up his throat, and try 
to warble ; and by this you can tell the males from 
the females) ; and, when he is in full feather, he com- 
mences to moult, or shed his body feathers. The 
wing and tail feathers he does not shed until the 
second season : this process is slow in a young bird, 
and usually requires about eight weeks to change 
all the body feathers, during all of which time they 
should be fed, at least twice a week, on the hard- 
boiled egg and cracker, as described above, and 
kept out of all draughts of air. 

If your bird — the father of the young — is a 
3* 



30 THE CHAFFINCH AND LINNET. 

good singer, the young birds will learn readily, and 
at the age of six months become fine songsters. 

The Longbreed, or French Canary, has had 
his day, and is now about "run out" in France. 
His high, square shoulders give him an ungainly 
appearance ; and his great length and delicate frame 
make him a very weak bird, and not well adapted 
for a parlor bird ; while, in powers of song, he is 
far, far inferior to the short, or German canary, so 
generally admired the world over for his exquisite 
song. 

There is a very general desire among all owners 
of a canary for some other bird that sings; and 
how often are bird-dealers asked the question, 
"What other kind, of bird can I buy that sings 
nicely ? " There are many very beautiful songsters 
among the seed-eating birds ; and the one that more, 
perhaps, has been written about than any other is 

The Chaffinch. — Who that has ever read the 
letter of Michelet to his good wife, in his work 
entitled "The Bird," could have failed to read his 
vivid description of a poor blind chaffinch, that was 
offered for sale in the great bird auction-rooms in 
Paris. This bird had been a pet ; and poverty in 
the family had compelled its sale. This bird is one 
of the many European song-birds, and for the 
sweetness of his song, as well as for his sleek plum- 
age, should be generally kept. Other favorite birds 
are the 

English Gray and Green Linnet. — They are 
both remarkably fine singing, or rather whistling, 



GOLDFINCH, SISKIN, AND TROOPIAL. 3 1 

birds : their tone is very sweet and soft, and they 
will sit perched upon one limb for hours together, 
and sing so sweetly that one almost falls in love 
with them. Two other English birds veiy much 
admired are the 

Goldfinch and Siskin. — The Goldfinch is an 
exquisite songster, arid, mated with a canary, pro- 
duces a bird of remarkable beauty, and really a fine 
songster. 

The Siskin can also be mated with the canary, 
and produce a very strong and hardy bird, and one 
that is much admired in Europe. 

All of the above birds, as well as the canary, are 
taught tunes by the poorer classes in Germany ; and 
some of the birds sing, or rather "pipe," their tune 
as nicely as a boy could whistle it. 

Amongst the soft-bill birds, — those that have a 
io?ig bill, — there are many beautiful songsters, first 
among which comes our own loved American mock- 
ing-bird. The bird which ranks next to our mock- 
ing-bird is the 

South-American Troopial. — This bird has a 
beautiful rich plumage, and looks very much like 
our American golden robin, or what is knov;n as 
the Baltimore oriole, the chief difference being that 
it is much larger in size, and the orange of the 
body being more of a yellow. It is one of the 
feathered tribe of the tropics, gifted with great pow- 
ers of song ; being extremely docile, they are great 
favorites for the cage, and, in confinement, become 
so tame that they will hop on your hand at call. 



32 TROOPIAL AND BULFINCH. 

Their song is a very powerful yet pleasant whistle 
of clear and varied notes. They are extremely 
active, and very graceful in their movements, and 
require a cage the same size that a mocking-bird is 
usually confined in. 

Following this bird in attractive qualities of song, 
come the nightingale, black-cap. warbler, wood and 
sky lark, Irish blackbird, thrush, English robin red- 
breast, starling, and hosts of others. 

The first of these birds that attracts our attention 
is the 

BuLFiNCH. — This bird has no natural song, but is 
gifted with the ability of imitating, with an astonish- 
ing accuracy, in a sweet and flutelike tone, almost 
any air that is whistled, or played to them on an 
instrument. This has made him a great favorite 
among all lovers of birds. 

In Germany, particularly in Hesse and Saxony, a 
large number of these birds are taught, and by the 
dealers brought to various parts of the world. The 
raising and teaching is generally accomplished by 
shoemakers, tailors, and weavers, who, being con- 
fined to their rooms, are thus enabled to take care of 
them. The teaching begins from the time they are 
taken into the house. The tune that it is intended 
they should learn is whistled to them — whis fling is 
always preferred, as instruments are generally too 
shrill — several times a day, more particularly in 
the morning and evening. The tune must be whis- 
tled always in the, same key, and no other tune 
whistled in the hearing of the bird, which is kept 



THE BULFINCH. 33 

in rather a dark place during the process of train- 
ing. 

Taken as they are when quite young, and brought 
up by hand, they are always tame, and will take food 
from the hand of any one, and may be trained to 
sing or pipe their tune at command : they very soon 
learn to know the person who feeds them, — and 
we will here remark that the same person should 
always feed them, — and will pipe their tune, making 
beautiful and elegant gestures, now moving the 
body, and then the head, first to tiie right, then to 
the left, spreading the tail like a fan, and seem- 
ingly " fanning " with it, when they commence with 
a short flourish, or prelude, and pipe their tune 
through perfectly. 

The bulfinch should be fed principally on sum- 
mer rape-seed, to which may be added a little 
canary, and occasionally one or two hemp-seed, as 
a reward for piping his tune. Sugar, sweet-cakes, 
or such-like delicacies, spoil their taste, and should 
not be given to them. A little greens in the sum- 
mer, or sweet apple in the winter, is very whole- 
some, both of which 7Jiust be fresh. As their claws 
grow very fast, and also very hooking, they must be 
cut at least twice a year. They must always be 
handled very gently, as they are easily frightened, 
and harsh treatment often causes their death. 

These birds usually moult in the month of Sep- 
tember ; and, as they shed their feathers very rap- 
idly, — sometimes becoming almost bare in one day, 
— great care must be taken to keep them from all 



34 THE GOLDFINCH. 

draught-s of air; and, in addition to their regular 
seed, a little of the yolk of a hard-boiled egg 
should be fed them at least three times a week. 

The bulfinch has diseases. These, however, are 
usually caused by improper care ; for if the bird 
be fed and watered regularly every day, at the 
same hour and by the same person, and plenty of 
dry sand freely used, the cause of disease is greatly 
reduced. Occasionally these birds are troubled 
with a diarrhoea, and can be greatly relieved, and 
many times a permanent cure effected, by placing 
a rusty nail in their drinking-water : a nail should 
also be placed in their drinking-water during moult- 
ing season ; and, should a bird be troubled with the 
reverse of this complaint, — costiveness, — a piece 
of sweet apple, a little chickweed, lettuce, or any 
green food, will usually afford full relief. Occa- 
sionally this bird will appear dumpish, sitting all 
day upon his perch with ruffled feathers : the best 
mode of treatment is to give him a supply of maw, or 
what is sometimes called poppy-seed, which will in 
most cases quickly restore him to his usual spirits. 

The next bird that is generally admired and kept 
is the 

Goldfinch ; and, of all parlor birds, he is cer- 
tainly one of the most delightful, alike for the 
beauty of his plumage, the excellence of his song, 
his proved docihty, and remarkable cleverness. He 
is also very easily tamed, and is capable of great 
attachment to his owner, and may be taught various 
amusing tricks, such as dragging a little wagon up 



GOLDFINCH MULES. 35 

an inclined plane into his cage to supply himself 
with food, or to ring a bell whenever he requires 
attention, and to haul up water from a little well 
underneath the cage. All these he will learn very 
readily, and without any coercion. 

Goldfinch Mules. — The goldfinch will pair with 
the canary, and the mule-birds produced are fre- 
quently very beautiful, and are also particularly 
good singers. The mixture, ' so to speak, of the 
song of the two birds is particularly sweet, fine, 
and pleasant to the ear. In breeding mule-birds, 
it is true that it requires some patience, and also 
good judgment, for the successful rearing of choice 
mules ; but, when a satisfactory result is obtained, 
it is well worth the pains. Like other birds, the 

Goldfinch has Diseases. — They are very sub- 
ject to epilepsy ; and sometimes, when closely con- 
fined, have swollen eyes. By anointing the eye 
with fresh butter, the ailment will be removed. 
They are greedy eaters, and are sometimes apt to 
overdo the matter. A cold bath will soon put them 
to rights. Goldfinche's have been known to live 
confined in a cage for sixteen or twenty years ; and, 
though they may lose their bright colors, they retain 
their activity and cheerfulness of disposition. Their 
food, in their wild state, consists of all kinds of 
seeds, &c. : in a cage they should be fed upon maw- 
seed. As their bill, though as sharp as* a needle, is, 
in young birds, quite soft, — and, although very fond 
of rape and canary seed, they cannot readily crack 
it until they are at least two years old, — it would 



36 THE LINNET. 

always be well to soak a little canary and rape for 
them, thereby softening the hull, and making it 
a matter of no trouble for them to crack ; and 
occasionally, as a reward for some trick or display 
of affection, a few crushed hemp-seed, which he 
should be made to take from the hand. Most wild 
birds, when captured, become in confinement sul- 
len and dispirited : want of exercise and of a 
peculiar kind of food so alters the quality of the 
fluids, that fits and ailments ensue ; and the bird 
mopes and soon dies. Not so with the goldfinch : 
immediately after its capture it commences to feed 
on its canary or hemp seed (fopd which it could 
never have tasted before), nibble its sugar in the 
wires, like an enjoyment which it had always been 
accustomed to, frisk about its cage, and dress its 
plumage, without manifesting the least apparent 
regret for the loss of companions or liberty. Its 
beauty, its melody, and its speedy reconciliation to 
confinement, render it a desirable companion ; and 
it is captured to cheer us with its manners and its 
voice in airs and regions ve'ry different from its 
native thistly downs and apple-blossom bowers. 

The Linnet, either gray or green, is a beautiful 
songster, and is very generally kept throughout 
Europe. It is of a hardy constitution, easily do- 
mesticated, a most lovely and constant singer, utter- 
ing many very sweet, flute-like notes ; and if fed 
principally on canary and rape seed, with occasion- 
ally a very few hemp seed, it will remain in compar- 
ative health. 



SISKIN, CHAFFINCH, AND NIGHTINGALE. 37 

Another bird which is attracting considerable 
attention in America is 

The Siskin. — This, as well as the goldfinch and lin- 
net, is one of the species used in crossing with the ca* 
nary. In Europe, it is a favorite cage-bird, and really 
a beautifully-plumaged one. Their song is short and 
low, though very agreeable, and they imitate with facil- 
ity the notes of various birds. Caged, they should be 
fed on maw-seed, mixed with crushed hemp. As they 
are a greedy bird, care must be taken not to feed 
them too much. In health or sickness, their treat- 
ment, except feeding, should be the same as the 
canary. A very beautiful bird, for his sleek plu- 
mage, as well as for his agreeable song, is the 

Chaffinch. — They are extremely docile, and can 
be trained or taught to perform many amusing 
tricks. Their food should be the same as the ca- 
nary, adding, however, in the spring, a few hemp- 
seed to induce them to sing more freely. 

These comprise about all the European seed-birds 
of song that find their way to America. 

Amongst the soft-bill birds (those that live on 
mocking-bird or other soft food), the first in the 
hearts of his countrymen is the 

Nightingale. 



" Night from her ebon throne stoops down to listen 
To this the sweetest songster of the grove ; 

And pulses thrill, and eyes with rapture glisten, 
As forth she pours her plaintive song of love." 

4 



38 THE NIGHTINGALE AND BLACK-CAP. 

This bird is decidedly the most melodious- of all 
singing-birds. The compass, flexibility, prodigious 
variety, and harmony of his voice make him the 
greatest favorite of the lovers of the beauty of 
nature. Coleridge wrote thus of this bird : — 

" The merry nightingale, 
That crowds and hurries and precipitates, 
With fast, thick warble, his delicious notes, 
As if he were fearful that an April night 
Would be too short for him to utter forth 
His love-chant, and disburden his full soul 
Of all its music." 

He will sometimes dwell for several seconds on a 
strain composed of only two or three melancholy 
tones ; beginning in an under voice, and swelling it 
gradually by a most superb crescendo to the high- 
est point of strength, he ends it by a dyin^ cadence. 
His very striking musical talent, surpassing all other 
singing-birds, has acquired for him the name of the 
King of Songsters. 

When caged and well treated, they will sing for 
six or eight months during the year : some begin in 
December, some in January, and some in February, 
and sing till the month of July. 

Th^ next of old England's warblers is the 

Black-Cap. — He is a most delightful singer, and 
is called the next best to the nightingale. His 
notes, though quite different, are no less admirable, 
and are heard throughout the year, during the whole 
day, except in the moulting season. He begins quite 
piano, Vv^ith several strains of warbling, and ends 



THE SKYLARK AND WOODLARK. 39 

with loud, most joyful, flutelike notes. Caged, he 
requires the same food as all soft-bill birds. 

The next favorite of the Old Country — and he 
also has hosts of friends in America — is 

The Skylark, — 

" The crested herald of the morn, that springs 
Up from his grassy flight, 
Seeming to rain down music from his wings, 
And bathe his plumage in the fount of light."* 

This beautiful warbler is spread all over Europe, 
and has the most peculiar manner of flying of any 
of the feathered tribe, his movement being invaria- 
bly upwards in a perpendicular line ; after leaving 
his grassy abode, beginning his melodious song, 
which h^ continues unceasingly till nearly out of 
sight, looking like a mere speck, towards the heav- 
ens, and even then you may hear his -sweet voice 
dying away as if in the clouds ; when he descends in 
like manner, still continuing to gratify his hearers 
below with his own peculiar melody till within a 
short distance from his nest, then, silently alighting, 
hiding himself in the grass, fearing, as if by instinct, 
some straggling wanderers were watching his move- 
ments, to find out the spot to " rob a bird's nest," 
when he creeps along, quite unseen, to visit his home 
and little family. 

The Woodlark is also a beautiful bird, and re- 
sembles the skylark in color, but is smaller, and is 
one of the sweetest singers in Europe, his song 



40 THE ENGLISH ROBIN REDBREAST. 

being a combination of beautiful, thrilling, and soft, 
flutelike notes, and quite free from any shrill or 
unpleasant ones. The food of both birds is the 
same as the American mocking-bird. 

Another English bird that is becoming popular 
with Americans is 

The English Robln Redbreast. — This bird is 
thought very much of in Europe, particularly in 
England, being lively and a very handsome bird. 
It is easily tamed, so as to be let out of its cage, and 
play about a room. It possesses a sweet warbling 
song. This bird is very fond of bathing, and should 
therefore be daily provided with a bath ; but, when 
allowed to fly about a room, care must be taken not 
to leave a pitcher, or any large vessel with water, 
within its reach, as it is very apt to take to such, 
and frequently gets drowned. It being a.soft-bill 
bird, its food is the same as the preceding birds. 

The following verse is an extract from a very 
pretty and pathetic poem, written on the far-famed 
story of "The Death of the Babes in the 
Wood:" — 



'No burial these pretty babes 
Of any man receives ; 

But Robin Redbreast painfully 
Did cover them with leaves." 



The family of thrushes have long been known to 
Americans, and require from us but a few lines. We 
can certainly say that the 



SONG THRUSH AND BLACKBIRD. 41 

Song Thrush is a most melodious singer, being 
gifted with a more powerful tone than any of the 
feathered choristers of the European forest. This 
speckled musician pleases with delight, and satisfies, 
as it were, the very soul of the listener. In the 
wild state, it only sings during the spring ; but, when 
caged and properly treated, will sing eight or nine 
months of the year, commencing about December 
or January. It is for this reason, as well as for its 
beautiful song, that the thrush is so much kept in 
cages, and domesticated. Food same as preceding. 

The Blackbird, whose plumage is of a pure vel- 
vety black, with an orange-yellow bill, is a fine song- 
ster. The notes, though not so various as those of 
the thrush, still are of a more sweet, flutelike tone. 
Besides this, he possesses the ability of imitating 
airs which are whistled to him : these he executes to 
great perfection. When in a wild state, this bird^ 
only sings about three months in the year ; when 
caged, sings nearly throughout the year. His food 
and treatment may be the same as we described for 
the thrush. 

We consider the blackbird, when in full plumage 
and in good health, a very handsome bird, and 
therefore are scarcely inclined to agree with an 
anonymous poet who says, — 

" I could not think so plain a bird 
Could sing so sweet a song." 

And now comes the last of the European birds 
that find their way ta America, — 



42 THE STARLING AND MOCKING-BIRD. 

The Starling. — His natural song is rather poor ; 
but he has a wonderfully good memory. He will 
learn to repeat several airs that are played to him, 
with great ease, — nay, more, he learns to pronounce 
words very distinctly, or imitate the song of other 
birds, or any sounds when repeatedly heard. Be- 
sides this, he becomes very tame in the house, so as 
to be let out of the cage, and walk about the room. 
He soon knows all the persons in the house, is al- 
ways gay and wakeful, and as docile and cunning as 
a dog. His food and treatment may be the same as 
that of the thrush. He is a very hardy bird, and 
will sometimes attain the age of fifteen years. 

Having treated quite thoroughly the songsters of 
old England, Ireland, and Germany, we will now 
take up our own loved American birds ; and to 
America belongs the finest and best bird in the 
world, ^ — 

The American Mocking-Bird. — This unrivalled 
songster, though he may not possess the melodious 
sweetness of the nightingale and lark, or the beau- 
tiful pipe of the blackbird, yet in himself he unites 
all the excellences to a greater extent than any 
other living bird. Who, on passing through the 
streets of any large city on a bright night in June, 
has not heard the shrill scream of the eagle, the 
mourning note of the turtle-dove, the delicate 
warble of the blue-bird, the cackling of the domes- 
tic hen, followed by the quarrelling of a dozen or 
more grimalkins^ each seeming to vie with the- other 
as to the quantity of noise ; then the cry of the 



MOCKING-BIRD FOOD. 43 

katydid, tlue mellow whistle of the cardinal, the 
grunt of the maternal porker searching for her 
juveniles, the creaking of some rusty swing-sign- 
board, the pipe of the canary, and the cry of some 
lost puppy wailing in the midnight air, and each 
succeeding the other with such rapidity, that the 
listener wonders if such a variety can come from 
so small an object. All this the mocking-bird is 
capable of. The mocking-bird is a general favorite, 
and deserves to be attentively cared for. He is 
particular, and should be fed and watered at the 
same time every day. His cage should be large, and 
kept very clean, with plenty of gravel. His food 
should be 

Reiche's prepared Mocking-Bird Food. — All 
other mocking-bird foods are only worthless imita- 
tions of this, and, in many cases, have been found 
to be very injurious to the bird. .It is in bottles all 
ready for use. In boxes, it will need the addition 
of grated carrot. The box food is the cheapest and 
best. A good way is to change every few weeks 
from one to the other. An addition of ants' eggs 
occasionally with their food (Chas. Reiche & Bro. 
are the only importers of them) is very beneficial ; 
a little sweet apple grated up with the food gives 
it a very fine flavor, and often restores the appetite 
when it seems quite poor. 

A Supply of Insects should be gathered during 
the proper season, such as flies, grasshoppers, spi- 
ders, &c., and put loosely in a paper bag, and hung 
up to dry ; and, when used in winter, they should 



44 MOCKING-BIRD FOOD. 

have boiling water poured over them, which will 
soften them, and make them as palatable as if they 
were still alive. A grasshopper thus prepared is a 
Thanksgiving dinner to your bird. Zante currants, 
the same as used for cake, washed clean, soaked 
over night, and wiped dry, also make a dainty 
morsel. 

Meal-Worms give a bird a great deal of life, and, 
being the richest of food, should only be given 
occasionally, say six to ten worms in a week. Every 
owner of a soft-bill bird should raise a stock of 
meal-worms. The process is very simple, and con- 
sists in first taking an old box or jar, and placing 
therein a quantity of bran or meal, — in fact, any fari- 
naceous meal, — a few biscuit or part of a loaf of 
bread, a few pieces af leather from an old, worn-out 
boot or shoe, and some woollen rags ; place therein 
a few meal-worms, — say fifty, — and then cover the 
opening tightly with a thick cloth. If this cloth is 
moistened with water occasionally, they will breed 
faster ; and, if not disturbed, at the expiration of from 
four to six months, you will have thousands. 

MocKiNG-BiRDS HAVE DISEASES. — Should your 
bird's feathers stand loosely all over, and he still 
seem healthful, give him cooling food only. Should 
your bird be dumpish and stupid, a few spiders will 
usually cure him. Should he refuse to eat, examine 
his tongue, and you probably will find on it a horny 
scale : this must be removed with great care, as, if 
allowed to remain, your bird will surely die. To 
remove this scale, hold the bird on his back firmly 



MOCKING-BIRD DISEASES. 45 

with one hand, and, with the finger-nail of the other 
hand, gently peel this scale from the tongue. Care- 
fully watch the bird's droppings, and immediately 
apply the cure for illness. 

DiARRHCEA IS CURED by a very rusty nail placed 
in his drinking-cup, and the reverse by insect food, 
or water with a few ants' eggs soaked in it. Blind- 
ness is not to be cured ; and the bird thus attacked 
will shortly die, its spirit being broken by the illness. 

During the month of May, sometimes earlier, all 
birds have what is called the 

Mating Fever. — They grow melancholy, allow 
their feathers to grow rough, cease to " plume 
themselves " before retiring, waste away, and die. 
All lovers of birds must have observed that a bird 
never goes to sleep without arranging, just* before 
dark, eveiy feather. The uniformity and tedious- 
ness of a bird's life, confined in a cage, that was 
not bred in one, is the cause of this mating-fever. 
They have an ungratified sensual desire. In many 
instances they forget their inclination for freedom 
and a mate, by simply changing the cage, and hang- 
ing near a window, where their time will be taken 
up in watching new surroundings. 

MocKiNG-BiRD Lice are a great annoyance to a 
bird, and should be gotten rid of. This is best 
done by placing the bird in another perfectly clean 
cage ; then steep some fine-cut chewing tobacco in 
water, and, with a very weak solution, wash the bird 
very thoroughly, particularly under the wings ; then 
place a white cloth or towel on top of the box, 



46 BIRD-LICE AND IMPROPER FOOD. 

and they will crawl up, and in a few days you will 
be rid of them. Clean your cage very thoroughly 
before you replace your bird therein ; and, with 
proper attention to cleanliness, you will not again 
be troubled with them. 

Experience has taught us that nine-tenths of the 
ailments of birds are caused by improper feeding. 
Bits of sugar, candy, daily green food, grapes, meat 
from the table, — all are bad for any bird. Birds need 
plain food, regularly given. Seed-birds require seed 
free from dust ; other birds, food mixed daily in 
clean vessels. A bath should be given the mocking- 
bird daily ; and the vessel should be removed iiom. the 
cage when the bird has bathed. You can soon 
teach any bird to bathe directly when you give him 
his bath, if you give it to him at the same hour each 
day. If irregular yourself, the bird will contract the 
same habit. 

These remarks on the mocking-bird will also apply 
to the thrush, starling, lark, nightingale, robin, black- 
cap, and, in fact, all the family of soft-bill birds. 
In doctoring your sick bird, ascertain as nearly as 
possible what his complaint is, and apply the rem- 
edy ; if it does not succeed, try another. Birds have 
been known to be at the point of death with cos- 
tiveness, when a small spider has been forced down 
their throats, and a large knitting-needle, dipped 
into oil, inserted into the passage as an injection, 
and the bird caused to fly a few feet, when imme- 
diate relief followed, and in a few hours the bird 
was acrain in songr. 



THE BOBOLINK AND VIRGINIA NIGHTINGALE. 4/ 

The bird which, in quality of song, ranks nex't to 
the mocking-bird, is ~" 

The Bobolink. — This bird has received his name 
from a peculiar song, of his own, in which he ex- 
presses very distinctly the words " bob-o-Unk " several 
times in succession. They are found all over the 
United States in the summer season in great num- 
bers, but migrate southerly when cold weather 
approaches. Their song is a confused, merry jingle 
of notes, of about the quality of the canaiy, but 
without any method whatever. They are easily 
domesticated to cage-life, and, when fed on noth- 
ing but canary-seed (no hemp), will sing about eight 
months of the year. They are hardy, and will live 
many years. The author owned one that- was sent to 
the World's Fair in 185 1, and, after taking the first 
prize in Europe, came safely back to America. 

Following this bird in attractive qualities of song 
as well as of plumage is the 

Virginia Nightingale, sometimes called the Vir- 
ginia red-bird, sometimes the cardinal. It is a 
native of the Southern States, and one of the hand- 
somest birds of the New World. Its color is of a 
brilliant red, with the exception of the throat and 
the part round the beak, which are black. The 
head is ornamented with a tuft, which it is capable 
of raising, giving it a very commanding appearance. 
Together with its beautiful plumage, this bird is 
gifted with a very sweet, pleasing song, or rather 
whistle, which sounds almost like the playing of a 
flageolet, being very pleasant to the ear. It is a 



48 THE TNDIGO-BIRD AND NONPAREIL. 

very hardy bird, and easily taken care of, and is 
kept in cages in this country as well as in Europe. 
It should be fed with a mixture of canary and hemp 
seed and rough (unhulled) rice, to which may be 
added a little fresh green food, or a piece of apple 
occasionally. When properly treated, this bird often 
attains the age of fifteen years ; though it will fade 
away from the beautiful scarlet red to a delicate 
shade of pink. The next attractive bird is 

The Indigo Bird. — This is one of America's 
sweet-voiced warblers, and is a native of our own 
sunny South, visiting the Northern States when warm 
weather has fairly established itself. Its color is a 
beautiful shade of indigo blue, and its size the same 
as the canary. Its song, though short, is quite 
agreeable, and by many considered very sweet. It 
will become very tame, and live many years in con- 
finement. If fed upon nothing but canary, millet, 
and rape seed, with occasionally a little green stuff, 
with the addition of a bath daily, it will keep in 
excellent condition and song.. Another favorite of 
the Southern States, and one which is never seen 
north of Southern Virginia, is the 

Nonpareil. — He is what his name indicates, — 
*' without an equal ; " his many hues giving him, in 
1872, the name of "Dolly Varden." They are the 
most beautiful cage-birds, and have only to be seen 
to be' admired. Their song, though not so strong 
as the indigo-bird, is equally agreeable, and their 
food the same, with the addition, in summer weather, 
of live flies, of which they are passionately fond. 



THE GROSBEAK AND AMERICAN ROBIN. 49 

Another beautiful bird, but rarely seen caged, is 
the 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak. — This very elegant 
bird is but little known ; yet but few of our domestic 
birds much surpass it in sweetness of song or beauty 
of plumage. It sings by night as well as by day, 
and its notes are very clear and mellow. Its great 
rarity in the wild state accounts for the fact that it 
is so seldom seen caged ; yet no bird can be more 
highly prized, its bright carmine breast and deep 
black and sno\vy white body forming* such a rich 
contrast. During; the summer it wanders into the 
high northern latitudes, wintering in the Middle 
States. Caged, it becomes very tame in a remark- 
ably short space of time, and, being well contented 
in confinement, lives many years. It usually keeps 
in the best of health if fed upon nothing but canary- 
seed. Being rather a greedy bird, if hemp or un- 
hulled rice (unless it seems to require it) is fed it, 
it will eat until it is with difficulty that it can move 
from the bottom of the cage. 

The American Robin, from his proved docil- 
ity, and power to imitate even tunes that may be 
taught him when young, is becoming, as well as the 
mocking-bird, a favorite for the cage. When taken 
from the nest and brought up by hand, and conse- 
quently tame, he can in a short space of time be 
taught a tune of considerable length, which he will 
whistle with accuracy, and in its accomplishment 
exhibit considerable musical ability. Their treat- 
ment is the same as the American mocking-bird. 
4 



50 THE GOLDEN ROBIN, SONG SPARROW, 

The Golden Roein, sometimes called the Balti- 
more oriole, sometimes lire-bird, and several other 
names in different parts of the Union, is veiy similar 
in appearance to the South American troopial, be- 
ing, however, but two-thirds its size, and not of as 
hardy constitution, nor has it the capacity for learn- 
ing tricks. Its song is a low, sweet, mellow whistle. 
If is, however, kept more for its beauty of plumage 
than song. In confinement, it should be treated the 
same as a mocking-bird. 

The bird that ranks next in song is 

The Song Sparrow. — It is seldom that he is 
seen caged, probably on account of the plainness of 
his wardrobe. He has for a song, though a short 
one, quite a variety of notes, commencing very much 
like the admired water-note of the canary. This 
he will repeat many times in succession, and also 
an endless number of times a day. He is a playful 
bird, and hours can be pleasantly passed in watching 
his antics. Caged, he should be fed the same as 
the canary. 

Next in order comes the bird of all birds for the 
boys, — 

The American Yellow Bird, or what in reality 
is the American goldfinch. This beautiful lemon- 
colored bird, with a black cap and black and white 
wing^ has always been a favorite with Americans ; 
and thousands are caught eveiy season by means 
of trap-cages, using almost any bird for a decoy. 
They are a sweet though very quiet songster. If 
fed upon maw, millet, and a little canary-seed (the 



YELLOW BIRD, AND RED LINNET. 5I 

two latter should be soaked a little), and othenvise 
treated as a canary, they have been known to 'live 
ten years in confinement. 

The next American bird that is usually kept as a 
cage-bird, and almost wholly for his song, is the 
common 

Red Linnet. — This beautiful singing, or 'we 
might ahiiost say whistling, bird, is one that 
should be as universally kept as the canaiy. Its 
song is equally as sweet, and it will sing for ten 
months of the year, or the whole season, excepting 
during the time of moulting. Its song consists of a 
variety of low, connected, sweet-sounding notes, 
which are never harsh to the ear ; and if kept near 
other birds, its power of imitation being very good, 
will soon add many beautiful notes to its already 
sweet song. If kept near fowls, it will soon learn 
the cackle of the domestic hen, and even give a 
veiy good imitation of the crowing of chanticleer. 
In confinement, it becomes very tame, and, if fed 
sparingly, will live a great number of years. It 
should be fed almost exclusively on rape and canaiy 
seed, and at times even a shoft alIo7uance of that. 
As before remarked, it becomes tame, and also 
very indolent ; and, though a constant singer, it is 
no exertion for it to sing, and it in reality has no ex- 
ercise. If it has hemp-seed fed it, it veiy soon has 
a giddiness followed by epilepsy, and shortly after 
by death. It is fond of bathing, and we might say 
of two kinds : first, like the skylark, in plenty of 
gravel (of which there must be an Abundance in the 



52 THE PARROT. 

cage) ; and second, it is very fond of water, and a 
bathing-dish must be given it daily. Its diseases 
are similar to all seed-eating birds in .confinement ; 
and the treatment must be the same, for which see 
article on Sick Birds. This bird finishes the Amer- 
ican birds of song usually kept in cages. 

The bird which next attracts our attention, and 
one that is found the world over and universally 
kept, is a native of Africa, known as the 

Gray Parrot, which, by its docility and affec- 
tionate conduct towards those who treat it kindly, 
and its wonderful power of imitating the human 
voice, has", with all its awkwardness, a very strong 
hold upon the human family. The very best spe- 
cies of the parrot is the African, which has a fine 
ashen-gray color, with a black bill, white face, and 
scarlet tail. These birds, either male or female, 
make excellent talkers : they can also be taught a 
tune, which they will sing or whistle perfectly ; and 
while they will seemingly forget m.any words and sen- 
tences which they have once pronounced perfectly, 
yet they never forget a song if it is once thoroughly 
taught them. The next parrot in attractive quali- 
ties is the green, with white over his bill. This 
bird makes an excellent talker, is equally as docile 
as the gray, and attains a great age. Another spe- 
cies very much admired is the yellow-head parrot. 
This, as well as several other varieties, is univer- 
sally kept and admired. The parrot, like all other 
birds, is liable to disease ; but with care it can be 
kept in nearl/ perfect health. In order to take 



THE PARROT. 5^ 

proper care of a bird, cleanliness first always," 
then place plenty of gravel in the cage, feed at a 
regular and stated time, always feeding the most 
simple and plain or coarse food. In its native 
country it feeds upon the seeds of the sunflower and 
the various grains, and with its exercise in its wild 
state does not grow too fleshy. Caged, it must be 
fed vastly diiferent. A good food for parrots is 
cold boiled potatoes, stale bread or crackers soaVed 
sometimes in water, sometimes in milk, and some- 
times in coffee, using the coffee just as it is leached 
or boiled, without the addition of milk or sugar. 
Bread soaked in coffee is a delicate morsel, and one 
of which a parrot is very fond. They also like 
canary-seed, unhulled rice, cracked corn, and hemp- 
seed. Of the two latter, very little should be given 
them ; and they should never have fed to them greasy 
food from the table, — sugar, cake, candy, or any 
such trash. A piece of apple or a little green stuff 
occasionally does no harm. Peanuts, forming a part 
of their native food, can always be given them. 
These rules followed, your parrot should be healthy. 
There are but two diseases that alike annoy the 
parrot and its owner; and a constant inquiry at 
bird-stores is, "What makes my parrot pull his 
feathers out ? " The reply invariably is, " You feed 
your bird too highly." And we will here remark 
that the parrot, like almost the majority of the 
human family, is afflicted with some kind of a skin 
disease, and the feeding of rich food drives this 
disease to the surface, causing an eruption, and a 
5* 



54 THE PARROT. 

consequent itching sensation, which the parrot re-, 
lieves by pulling out its feathers. The only remedy 
for parrots addicted to this habit is to feed them on 
either raw or boiled carrots and well-roasted pea- 
nuts. These are both cooling foods, being entirely 
free from grease of any kind. They also require 
showering with cold water from three to six times 
per day ; and, as they should only be showered with a 
spi;^y of water, it would be well to put a piece of rub- 
ber tube on the end of a faucet, and, holding the fin- 
ger nearly close across the end, cause the water to 
fall in a spray upon the bird. When it is not con- 
venient to thus shower a bird, a mouthful of water 
blown over the bird will answer every purpose. 
Should your parrot be attacked with diarrhoea 
(which, if he is properly cared for, he will not be), 
he should have, all green food, fruit, &c., taken 
away, and be fed upon mjlk which has been boiled 
away, say at least a quarter, and thickened with the 
least mite of Graham flour, so called, with the ad- 
dition of a very\ very little red pepper. If this does 
not effect a cure in from one to three days, then 
give him stale bread soaked in warm sherry-wine, 
which has had a very little burnt sugar added 
thereto, — not, however, giving this until the other 
has failed. 

Even these remedies usually efficacious have failed 
at the time when a parrot was shedding his feathers ; 
and whole peppers and spices of various kinds are 
given the bird, but without the desired effect. " The 
hist remedy for this painful disease is laudanum or 



THE PARROT. 5^ 

pctTogoric. If the latter, five drops in a teaspoon 
of milk, poured dovni the bird's throat, and the dose 
repeated every half-hour until relief comes, when 
discontinue, and feed a little plain food, and keep 
the bird 'covered up in a shawl or piece of blanket, 
and \n a warm place, until again restored to health. 

If the bird has sore feet, occasioned only by a 
dirty cage, and not using sand freely, first put sand 
into the cage, then wash his feet in lukewarm vs^ater, 
first adding a little tincture of arnica thereto. If 
3'our parrot is troubled with costiveness, green fruit 
and exercise outside the cage is the best remedy. 
If gouty, which they will show by their feet swell- 
ing, and a partial closing of the claws, immerse the 
feet in quite w^arm water once or more per day, and 
soak them for ten or fifteen minutes ; dry thoroughly, 
and in a week or ten days a cure will be effected. 
Sometmies v/ith old cases it takes even longer. If 
your bu'd is troubled with fits,' a sprinkling with cold 
water usually effects a cure. Should you be trou- 
bled with lice on your parrot, you can wash him 
with a strong solution of tobacco, made by steeping 
a little chewing-tobacco in water, or a very little 
flower of sulphur can be sprinkled among the feath- 
ers. 

These comprise about all the ailments of the par- 
rot family ; and the remedies here laid down for their 
treatment also apply to the dwarf parrot, or what are 
more commonly known as paroquets : but with care 
(not too much care) you will be relieved of these 
troublesome complaints. 



56 THE AUSTRALIAN PAROQUET. 

The Australian Paroquet. — This ver}^ beautiful 
and eccentric bird has but recently been introduced 
into this country ; yet it possesses so many desira- 
ble qualifications that it has at once become a well- 
known member of the "bird family." This bird is a 
native of the island from whence it takes its name ; 
and in its wild state leads a retired and sequestered 
life, sometimes alone, and again in pairs. During 
mating season, they are found in pairs, and in im- 
mense numbers, the male and female each singing 
to the other incessantly. As they are inhabitants of 
the earth, where they build their nests, they are 
rarely found in trees. Their plumage is a beautiful 
shade of green, with a few brownish or black feath- 
ers upon the back, and the-feathers of the head a 
bright lemon color ; which, added to the bright blue 
spots around the head and neck, make them a beauti- 
ful and attractive bird. They easily become domes- 
ticated to cage-life, and are capable of being taught 
many amusing tricks. They are hardy birds, and 
easily endure the cold winters of the north ; the au- 
thor once having placed a pair v/here water froze to 
the depth of an inch, and this, too, without any per- 
ceptible injury to the birds. They should be fed 
wholly upon canary-seed, and allowed frequent baths. 
With this treatment they will continue in perfect 
health for many years. 

A bird that is now very much admired for the 
beauty of his plumage, as well as his exquisite pow- 
ers of song, is the pet of the tropics, — 

South American Troopial. — This bird has a 



THE TROOPIAL AND CARDINAL. 57 

beautiful rich plumage, and looks very much like our 
American golden robin, or what is known as the 
Baltimore oriole, the chief difference being that it 
is much larger in size, and the orange of the body 
being more of a yellow. It is one of the feathered 
tribe of the tropics, gifted with great powers of song. 
Being extremely docile, they are great favorites for 
the cage, and in confinement become so tame that 
they will hop on your hand' at call. 

Their song is a very powerful yet pleasant whistle 
of clear and varied notes. They are extremely ac- 
tive and very graceful in their movcQients, and re- 
quire a cage the same size that a mocking-bird is 
usually confined in. In their wild state their food 
consists of insects and berries ; caged, they require 
the same food and treatment as the mocking-bird. 
There are few wild birds, which, when confined, be- 
come so thoroughly domesticated as the troopial. 
They can be taught with little trouble to accept food 
from the hand, to fly to and perch upon the one who 
regularly attends to their daily requirements ; and 
their extreme docility is a fact protven beyond a doubt. 

The Brazilian Cardinal. — This is one of the 
beautiful whistling birds of the tropics, and is justly 
admired as a cage-bird. His brilliant scarlet head, 
which is ornamented with a tuft or crest, forms a 
beautiful contrast with the snowy white of his body. 
In addition to his beautiful plumage, he is also 
gifted with powers of song, which consist of a series 
of connected, low, sweet, whistling notes.- If fed 
upon nothing but unhulled rice and canary-seed, 



58 JAVA AND ENGLISH SPARROW, 

and given plenty of bathing water, he will live many 
years in confinement Another very pretty bird, a 
native of the East "Indies, and very much kept in 
cages, — mostly, however, for their beaut}^, ^ — is the 

Java Sparrow, who takes his name from the Java 
Islands, where they abound in immense numbers. 
Their chief recommendation is the great neatness, 
and, 3^ou might say, beauty, of plumage ; their 
glossy black head, with clear white cheeks, and 
delicate rose-colored bill, that looks like a piece of 
wax-work ; and their light-slate or almost ashen-gray 
body, forming one of the richest combinations of 
colors. They become very tame in confinement, 
and occasionally one is seen that can in reality be 
called a bird of song. They can be taught a variety 
of amusing tricks, and, perhaps more than any other 
caged bird, will perform their tricks at command, 
with the seeming fear of a child. 

The English Sparrow. — The English sparrow, 
now so commonly seen in all of the parks, and in 
fact streets, of New York, Brooklyn, Jersey City, 
and Hoboken, was. first introduced by the Messrs. 
Reiche in 1858. The cost of the first importation 
was partly paid by Mr. W. H. Scheifiellin, who had 
a quantity of them set free in the garden of his pala- 
tial residence in Madison Square, New- York City. 
The quantity of sparrows now seen around the Fifth- 
Avenue Hotel are descendants of this first importa- 
tion. The remainder of the sparrows were given 
their liberty by Mr. Henry Reiche in the Central 
Park. How they have increased and multiplied, we 



ENGLISH SPARROW. 59 

need not inform our readers who are in the habit of 
visiting the metropolis of America, and how faith- 
fully they have devoured all worms and insects that 
formerly ruined the beautiful trees ; and we might 
say they have been the saving of the fruit-crop the 
whole lensfth of the Hudson River. Gardens which 
had 'not a currant in them for years, and apple- 
orchards that had ceased to bear, — were all in fine 
bearing order the same season the sparrows were 
introduced. The question is often asked, "Do 
these birds destroy seed after planting?" We 
answer. No : they are an insect-eating bird, and never 
eat or scratch seed. They are consequently the 
farmer's best friend. 

In reply to a question, "How many broods do 
they raise in a year?" In New York and vicinity 
they raise four, broods in a season, and will doubt- 
less do the same in any part of the country ; and 
they never rear less than four to a brood, often- 
times six birds. If our farmers and gardeners knew 
how destructive they were to insects, and how their 
crops would be increased by their introduction, they 
would give the subject their earnest consideration. 
The sparrows now sold are all raised in New York 
and its vicinity, and of course are thoroughly accli- 
mated ; so no fears need- be entertained of their 
dying from change of climate. 

What the " Old-World Sparrow " will do was very 
happily told by W^illiam Cullen Bryant, after passing 
an evening with the late Mr. Sheiffellin in 1858. His 
beautiful poem tells a better story of the sparrow 
than we possibly could. 



60 ENGLISH SPARROW. 

To those who propose introducing this bird, either 
private individuals or town or city authorities, v/e 
would suggest the propriety of sending their orders 
during the months of January and February. The 
sparrows ordered at that time will be ready for de- 
livery at a date not later than the 15th of April. At 
this time they begin mating, and are engaged in 
building their nests, and consequently cannot be 
caught and transported to other places without dan- 
ger to them, and loss of life, which, if persisted in, 
would speedily exterminate all the sparrows which 
have cost ATnerica immense sums of money^ Lovers 
of sparrows who desire introducing them, and have 
neglected ordering during the months of January 
and February, and who do not reside north of Port- 
land, can order at any time in the summer, and re- 
ceive them during the months of October and No- 
vember. The birds sent at this time are hardy, and 
require but little care, the main point being to sup- 
ply them with soft food, such as stale bread, &c. 
If the snow should remain for a considerable length 
of time, it would be well to sweep a piece of ground, 
thereby enabling them to procure gravel, which is of 
the utmost importance for proper digestion and con- 
sequent health. 

TflE OLD-WORLD SPARROW. 

BY WILLIAM C. BRYANT. 

We hear the note of a stranger bird, 
That ne'er till now in our land was heard : 
A winged settler has taken his place 
With Teutons and men of the Celtic race. 



THE OLD-WORLD SPARROW. 6l 

He has followed their path to our hemisphere,— 
The Old- World sparrow at last is here. 

He meets not here, as beyond the main, 
The fowler's snare and the poisoned grain ; 
But snug-built homes on the friendly tree, 
And grubs for his chirping family 
Are strewn when the winter fields are drear ; 
For the Old- World sparrow is welcome h 



ere. 



The insect legions that sting our fruit, 
And strip the leaves from the growing shoot, — 
A swarming, skulking, ravenous tribe, 
Which Harris and Fitch so well describe. 
But cannot destroy, — may quail with fear ; 
For the Old- World sparrow, their foe, is here. 

The apricot, in the summer ray, 

May ripen now on the loaded spray ; . 

And the nectarine on the garden-walk, 

Keep firm its hold on the parent stalk ; 

And the plum its fragrant fruitage rear ; 

For the Old-World sparrow, their friend, is here. 

That pest of gardens — the little Turk 

Who signs with the crescent his wicked work, 

And causes the half-grown fruit to fall — 

Shall be seized and swallowed, in spite of all 

His sly devices of cunning and fear ; 

For the Old- World sparrow, his foe, is here. 

And the army-worm and the Hessian fly 
And the dreaded canker-worm shall die ; 
And the thrip and slug and fruit-moth seek 
In vain to escape that busy beak ; 
And fairer harvests shall crown the year ; 
For the Old-World sparrow at last is here. 
6 * 



62 FINCHES. 

Finches for the Aviary. — These pretty little 
creatures are charming pets lor the drawing-room, 
and of the utmost interest to the lover of birds. 
They are kept more particularly for their beauty 
of plumage. They are thoroughly happy in each 
other's society, and sit all together in a row, on a 
long perch, packed as closely as possible, caressing 
and pluming each other. There are many varieties ; 
and they may be classed under the general terms of 

Waxbills and Avadavats. — Chief among the 
many, we would mention the waxbills, which do not, 
as a general rule, sing any thing like a song ; but 
they chirp considerably, and it is a soft, pleasant 
warble. The > orange-cheeked waxbill is a beautiful 
smooth little bird, always as neat as possible, with 
every feather; in its place, vermilion beak, gray 
head, neck and throat brown. The female is about 
the same in general a^Dpearance. The zebra, or 
orange-breasted waxbill, is quite small, but very 
pleasing ; and, as he is scarcely three inches long, 
he is considered desirable. The St. Helena waxbills 
are considerably larger, being about four inches and 
a half in length. A remarkable feature of this 
species is, that all the feathers have transverse, 
blackish, wavy lines over them, and look very soft 
and silky. The gray-blue is of delicate slate-color 
over the whole body, with silvery-white sjDOts on 
the sides. The courdon bleu, or, as some call this 
well-known finch, crimson-eared waxbill, is also an 
African bird, and one of great beauty. The male 
has a soft, pleasing song, and is usually to be heard 



FINCHES. 63 

cooing, as if for his own amusement. This little 
fellow has a peculiar habit of singing with a bit of 
twine, or something which he can hold, in his bill. 
If he can find a piece of cotton, or a stalk of any 
kind, he will hop about his cage, and sing to his 
utmost. The spice bird, also known as the " nut- 
meg^' and " cinnamon bird," and described by some 
authors under the name of "gowry" or " gowry 
grosbeak." These birds are somewhat larger than 
the African finches, and are equally entertaining. 
They are of various colors, but are generally 
found with the head, neck, throat, and upper part 
of the body a rich brown, the breast and sides 
white, wings and tail brown. The male has a 
peculiar song, which will hardly attract attention, 
save that the female regards it as pleasing ; for she 
always places her head close to her mate's while he 
is singing, and is evidently unwilling to lose a single 
note. The silverbill, or quaker bird, somewhat 
resembles the spice bird in shape and size. The 
male has a pretty warbling song, and he will often 
dance upon his perch, as if keeping time to his 
melody. When kept in couples, they become very 
affectionate, and devote the greater part of their 
time to preening and caressing each other. There 
is also an Indian silverbill; l)ut they are not as 
common, though occasionally they can be found. 
The red-tailed finch is also a pretty bird, having a ver- 
milion beak. The wings, back, and head are grayish, 
the breast nearly the same color, dotted with whitish 
spots j the under part of the body a pale straw color ; 



64 FINCHES. 

the tail a bright red. The male has an agreeable 
song. The amanclava finch is a native of India. 
They are somewhat smaller than' the St. Helena 
waxbill. As they vary somewhat in color, and as it 
is not until they are two or three years old that 
they come to their perfect plmnage, it is somewhat 
difficult to describe their appearance so that it would 
be of use to those in search of this charming little 
warbler. As a rule, the best birds have the head 
and under part of the body a bright red, with an 
occasional black feather ; the back a light brown, 
and the 'tail black. The fire finch bears a strong 
resemblance to the avadavats, at certain seasons of 
the year. It is somewhat larger, but has little or 
no song. They are kept particularly for their beauty 
and cheerful disposition. The saffron finch is in 
many respects similar to the canary, though not 
-quite as large. In point of color, however, the finch 
is miore desirable, as the shades are of brighter 
tints. These birds come from Brazil, and are 
greatly sought after for the aviary, as they are of the 
most sociable disposition, and live in the utmost 
agreement with their comrades. The Cuba and 
negro finch have recently been introduced into 
this market, and with a good degree of success ; 
also the Queenisland or Rockhampton finches, 
which are brought from Australia. The banded finch 
is another choice bird, and one which will speedily 
become a favorite. The whole body is of a rich chest- 
nut-brown, both above and below; the upper and under 
tail coverts white, and the tail black. The dia- 



FINCHES. 65 

mond sparrow, or " spotted-sided finch," is also a 
native of Australia. It is a short, stout bird, some- 
what larger than the St. Helena waxbill. The under 
part of the body is white, and the sides under the 
wings quite black, with oblong white spots ; the 
lower part of the back and upper tail-feathers are of 
a deep carmine. They have the utmost desire to 
catch flies, and, if allowed the liberty of a room, 
will rush to the window, and remain by the hour 
catching them. They can be made remarkably tame, 
and can be trusted without their cage to a consider- 
able extent. Their song is limited. The cut-throat 
sparrow, sometimes called " Indian sparrow," or 
"fascinated linch," is about half the size of an Eng- 
lish sparrow. It is of a delicate grayish-fawn color, 
spangled with white spots. They have a soft, deli- 
cate twitter, which can scarcely be called a song. 
The " little doctor " is from the South- American ports. 
The plumage of the male is of a beautiful shade of 
bluish-black, with an occasional white spot. They 
have a habit of sitting in the middle of their perch, 
and holding up one foot, singing to each other for 
hours. They can easily be tamed. There are 
numerous other varieties, including the magpie 
finch, celestial, negro, nuns, both black and white 
capped, &c., &c. These birds can be kept in 
one cage, and indeed they are miserable without 
companions ; and, if two birds of different species 
lose their respective mates, they are almost sure to 
console themselves and to consort together. They 
should be fed upon millet-seed, and given a bath 
6* 



66 WHYDAH BIRD. 

daily ; but great care should be taken that they are 
kept in a warm room, and, if possible, in the warm 
rays of the sun. When moulting, a pinch of Cayenne 
pepper, sprinkled on the sand in the bottom of the 
cage, once or twice a w^eek, will be found beneficial. 
They are fond of the sun, and delight to bask in its 
warmth ; but care must be taken not to leave them 
exposed to cold draughts or the dampness of the 
night air. With the above precautions, all these 
birds can be kept in cages for many years. 

The Paradise Whydah Bird is a well-known 
cage-bird, and one of great beauty. Some fanciers 
have given this bird the name of " the widow," from its 
quiet manner and its general color of plumage. The 
name is really that of a kingdom oh the east coast 
of Africa. The great beauty of the paradise why- 
dah bird is in its curiously-formed tail, the two 
centre-feathers of which are very broad, and about 
four inches long : the outer feathers are in some 
cases from thirteen to sixteen inches in length, 
broad in the centre, and tapering down to a delicate 
point. These birds are easily kept in aviaries, and 
in Southern France they have been bred in cages. 
The shaft-tailed whydah is a smaller and much 
more delicate bird : the tail is entirely different from 
the paradise whydah, yet quite as interesting. It is 
short and fan-shaped ; the body of the middle 
feathers is extended into naked quills, which are 
about seven or eight inches long. The song of this 
species is of excellent quality. The weavers are a 
most companionable bird: they are brought from 



WEAVERS. 67 

Africa, India, and parts of the Asiatic islands. 
Their weaving instincts are exliibited upon every 
possible occasion : they will gather every piece of 
thread, blade of grass, or whatever of that nature 
may come in their way, and weave it into the wires 
of their cage after the most fantastic fashion. One 
could pass the entire day watching the workings of 
these ingenious and industrious little fellows. If their 
friends do not provide for their weaving wants, they 
will resort to the most extraordinary means whereby 
they can supply themselves. They will try to steal 
the trimmings of ladies' dresses, and will be continu- 
ally pilfering grass and straw from other cages, 
which they will weave into the most fantastic forms. 
The author once owned a pair, which he kept in a cage 
with larger birds. These little fellows would weave 
the legs of the larger birds so tightly together that 
their bonds required cutting. There is a species of the 
weaver which is called by some the grenadier gros- 
beak. This bird should be termed the bishop bird, 
and, when in full plumage, is certainly very 
beautiful. It will live with other birds, and is 
apt to become very sociaUle with its companions, 
who will be caaght in the meshes of its weaving if 
not upon their guard. So far as possible in a 
volume of this size, the description of finches will 
be found to be complete and reliable. These birds 
are all suitable for the aviary ; but the following 
birds can be placed with them by those who de- 
sire to make a more extended collection : canary, 
goldfinch, linnet, bulfinch, chaffinch, greenfinch, 



6S BIRDS FOR AVIARY. 

siskin, American goldfinch, indigo bird, nonpareil, 
song sparrow, Java sparrow, Australian paroquets, 
love birds, mountain finch, rose bunting, cardinal 
grosbeak or Virginia nightingale, red -breasted 
grosbeak, Brazilian cardinal, crossbill, pine gros- 
beak, hawfinch, and sparrow. Of course the bird 
famil}^, like all others, is liable to domestic troubles. 
Sometimes a bird of certain species will become 
troublesome, and destroy the quiet and happiness 
of the entire family. When such a one is found, he 
should be taken out and exchanged at a first-class 
bird-stor-e for another of its kind : by this means the 
aviary will become a model of quietness and har- 
mony. 

The house of Charles Reiche & Brother have 
experienced a great deal of trouble, especially in 
earlier years, from the enormous duties which they 
were obligecTto pay as customs for the importation of 
foreign birds. In order to facilitate the importation 
of choice birds from the different countries, this 
house for many years paid heavy duties under pro- 
test, while they carried on a suit with the government 
of the United States. It was only after a number of 
years, and after the case had passed through every 
court to the Supreme Court of the United States, that 
Chief Justice Chase decided, in 1872, that a bird was 
not an animal, and therefore, by the letter of the law, 
exempt from duty. Since that decision, the lovers 
of birds have been able to procure them • at a low 
rate in comparison to that which they would have 
been obliged to pay, had it not been for the persever- 
ance of Messrs. Charles Reiche & Brother. 



BIRD-SEED. 69 

Bird-seed. — Very few persons are aware how 
much a bird's health, and consequently its song, 
depends upon the selection of seed. There are 
as many qualities or grades of canary-seed as 
there are qualities or grades of flour. Is all flour 
alike 1 If it is, then all seed is alike. The qual- 
ity of canary-seed is usually based by dealers in seed 
upon the price per bushel, — it varying from $2.15 
to $4.70 at present writing (May, 1873). The very 
best seed is the 

Sicily Canary. — It is a very plump and heavy- 
feeling seed, and is extremely palatable to the bird. 
A sample of this seed — enough to last one bird 
two 7?io?iths — will be sent by mail, prepaid, on re- 
ceipt of twenty-five cents. 

The German Summer Rape-seed is excellent for 
birds, and should always be given them. It is their 
only food in Germany, where they are reared, and, 
being of a very cooling nature, will always keep the 
bird in excellent condition ; though, if fed on this 
exclusively, he will not sing as much as if his 
seed were mixed with canary, — the canary giving the 
bird life and animation. A package of clear 
rape, or rape and canary mixed, will be sent the 
same as the clear canary, and at same price. The 
next seed which is used, and often by persons en- 
.tirely ignorant of its nature, is 

Hemp-seed. — This is a very rich, oily, sweet seed, 
and very much loved by birds of every species. 
Wheii mixed with other seeds, the bird never fails 
to scatter all other around the room, searching 



70 BIRD-SEED. 

for this dainty morsel, and, so long as he has one 
seed, will not taste either rape or canary. This, 
being the richest of all seed, should be fed very 
sparingly. If the bird is in health and song, never 
give hemp ; for it only fattens, and, if constantly fed, 
will ruin the song. Occasionally a bird seems deli- 
cate, and is a very small eater : in such a case give 
a few hemp, — and only a few, unless the bird be 
a long breed, in which case give about a thimble- 
ful, 7iot ofteiier than twice a week. Goldfinches and 
siskins are fed upon 

Maw-seed, sometimes called poppy. These two lit- 
tle climbing birds have very soft bills, — that is, the 
young birds, — and it is with difficulty that they 
crack rape and canary seed, unless it has been previ- 
ously soaked, until the birds are at least two years old. 
All birds are great lovers of maw-seed ; and it must 
be fed sparingly ; for, being a powerful opiate, 
they will feed upon it until they drop from the 
perch from its intoxicating effect. The few birds 
that require this seed, besides the preceding, are the 
bulfinch, canary, and occasionally some other seed- 
eating bird ; for which see Treatment of Birds. The 
next seed used is called 

Paddy, — unhuUed or rough rice. This seed is fed 
to most of the seed-eating birds of the rice-fields of 
the Southern States, and also those that come from 
China, Java, or in fact from any part of the world 
that rice is grown. All of the family of grosbeaks 
are particularly fond of it, as is also the Java spar- 
row and rice bird. Our native bobolink is not 



BIRD-SEED. 71 

averse to a bountiful supply ; but, with the feeding 
of this in any quantity, his vocal powers are ruined. 
For the family of finches. 

Millet-seed is used exclusively. It is the size 
and color of mustard-seed, very sweet ; and birds 
thrive remarkably well upon it, though many of them 
will also eat readily of rape and canary seed. This 
seed, being nutritious, can be fed to any seed-eating 
bird, and without detriment to theln. The only 
other food required is 

Cracked Corn and cracked wheat. This is fed 
principally to macaws, parrots, paroquets (of the 
larger species), cockadillos, cockatoos, lories, &c. 
The corn, being of a heating nature, should only be 
given in small quantities. 

By the present postal laws, seed can be sent 
safely through the mail ; and all orders intrusted 
to us will be filled with the very best quality, and 
the largest possible amount forwarded for the money 
sent. 

To those living remote from a bird-store, and de- 
siring one of "God's joyous warblers," it is with 
pleasure that we here state that they can be safely 
sent by express to any part of the United States or 
Canadas. All any party need do is to give an order 
to an express company, accompanying the same 
with a five-dollar bill, — this is very important to the 
express company, — and for this sum he will procure 
you a first-class singing canary. I am aware that 
many people are reluctant to trust a bird to the 
supposed rough handling of an expressman. The 



72 TRANSPORTING BIRDS. 

expressman may handle a trunk roughly, and throw 
packages around in a careless manner, but noi 
the little innocent bird. 

Could you but see, as the author has so many, 
many times, on a cold, bleak winter's day, an ex- 
press-messenger, clad in an ordinary under-coat, 
drive to the store door, and take from his wagon a 
package of birds closely wrapped in his overcoat^ re- 
marking as he placed the package within the door, 
"I could not bear, Mr. Holden, to see the little 
things suffer such a terrible day as this." Or had 
you been with the author one stormy night last 
winter, when coming eastward from New York 
by steamer, upon which was a large shipment of. 
birds in charge of the Adams Express Company, you 
might have seen the messenger, on arriving at Fall 
River, carry the package with the utmost care into 
the cars, and place it near the stove in that part of 
the car usually occupied by himself. The comfort 
and safety of these helpless creatures was to him of 
the utmost importance. Having some curiosity, I 
asked him why he was so particular about the package, 
he replied, without knowing to whom he was speak- 
ing, " Ah, sir, I love those little birds ! they can- 
not take care of themselves, and God knows my first 
duty is to them." A call at the office of the com- 
pany revealed the fact, that the messenger was Mr. 
David Crowley, one of the three survivors of the 
fated "Lexington," which was burned in 1842. The 
house of Charles Reiche & Brother have shipped 
fi^dixly half a milliofi birds; and this immense number 



TAMING AND TRAINING. 73 

without any loss worthy of mention. If our ex- 
perience is worth any thing, do not hesitate to 
order ; for the express company will always pur- 
chase at the point nearest your residence, and^ get 
them to you with as little exposure as possible. 

Almost all fanciers take a delight in having their 
birds so tame that they will not only take their food 
from the hand, but will readily fly to, and remain 
with, the person from whom they daily receive atten 
tion. When wild birds are first caught and placed 
in a cage, it is not well to begin at once upon their 
education. It requires some little time for them to 
become accustomed to their new mode of life : the 
change of food, together with a diminishing of their 
usual exercise, so changes the fluids that the bird is 
not in a healthy condition, and is therefore wholly 
unfit for mental training. 

There are some birds which seem thoroughly in- 
capable of learning the important fact, that their at- 
tendant is their friend. When it is discovered that 
such is the nature of the bird in hand, it is as well 
to give up all hopes of attaining favorable results. 
Patience will, however, accomplish much ; and it is 
best to give a long and careful trial before pronoun- 
cing final judgment. Young birds can be taught 
more easily than old ones. Yet with siskins, gold- 
finches, Java sparrows, and chaffinches almost any 
age will answer. One of the best ways to teach a 
bird to fly and return, or to go out of doors perched 
upon the finger or shoulder, is first to tease it with a 
soft feather in its cage, leaving the door open. The 



74 TAMING AND TRAINING. 

bird at first will appear frightened, but, on finding 
that no harm is intended, will peck at the feather, 
which should be quickly withdrawn. The bird, soon 
thinking that it has mastered the feather, thereby 
gains confidence, and will peck at the finger : soon 
it will come out of its cage, and perch upon the 
hand. A few choice morsels should be laid down for 
it ; and in this way it will soon learn to eat from the 
hand itself. The bird should then be made ac- 
quainted with some call, \yhich should invariably 
be used whenever the training is going on ; after a 
short time the bird can be placed upon the shoulder, 
and carried from one room to another, care being 
taken to close the windovv^s and outside doors. In 
this way it will speedily become accustomed to being 
handled, and can be allowed to fly about the room, 
inviting it to return by the previously-arranged call 
or whistle. As soon as it attends to the call with- 
out appearing nervous or friglxtened, it can be taken 
into the open air, and gradually accustomed to being 
carried abroad without its offering to fly. 

Adult birds should not be carried into the open 
air in the spring or in pairing time ; for at this season 
of the year they show indications of resuming their 
native wildness. A siskin, goldfinch, or canary can 
easily be tamed by cutting away more or less of the 
inner web of the pinion-feathers, care being taken 
that the bird shall have sufficient power to fly from 
the hand without injury. The nostrils are then 
smeared with any essential oil, — bergamot is as good 
us any, — which will render it partially insensible for a 



TAMING AND TRAINING. 75 

time. It should then be placed upon a finger, and 
changed from one to another. It may fly a few 
times, but should be brought back, and kept upon 
the hand until the effects of the oil have wholly 
passed away, when the bird, finding no harm is in- 
tended, will sit quietly. A few crushed hemp-seeds 
should be given for its good behavior, and the above 
repeated from day to day until a satisfactory result 
is obtained. Hunger will speedily teach a bird to 
take food from the hand. Place it in a small cage, — 
one that has a door large enough for the hand to pass 
through, — then remove all food. In a few hours try 
putting a seed-dish into the cage with your hand : if 
the bird flutters wfldly about, and refuses to accept 
your offering, remove your dish, and wait a few hours 
longer. You will not be compelled to remain long 
in suspense, for two or three trials will generally 
effect a good result. After food has been accepted 
from the dish, try your hand ; and as soon as yQU 
have convinced your pupil that only from you can 
food be procured, and to you, and you only, must he 
look for all his goodies, a friendship will be formed 
which he will not be first to break. Birds that are 
desired to be tame should be talked to and made 
of : th«y should be placed upon your writing-table, 
and every now and again a little notice taken of 
them. It is surprising how speedily these little 
fellows will learn the difference between neglect and 
attention. Some of the best birds which have been 
placed on exhibition have been those ow^ned by 
tailors and shoemakers, who, owing to the nature 



"^6 TAMING AND TRAINING. 

of their business, could keep their feathered pupils 
constantly with them. 

Thus far I have spoken only of taming these 
" little dewdrops.'' They are capable of still greater 
things, and can, with little or no coercion, be taught 
to perform many amusing tricks. The goldfinch 
and siskin may be taught to fire off small cannon, 
to imitate death, to draw up their food and water in a 
little bucket. The apparatus consists of two lines 
of broad, soft leather, in which there are four holes, 
through which their feet and wings are passed, and 
the ends are held together beneath the belly by a 
ring, to which is attached a delicate chain that sup- 
ports the buckets containing the food and drink. 
A bird thus equipped will draw up the chain by its 
beak, retaining the draw links by its feet, and thus 
succeeds in obtaining what he wishes. A cage can 
be made with a bay-window, in the floor of which 
have a hole : across this place a narrow bridge of 
wood, to which attach a small chain or piece of cord 
to hold the bucket, which should be about the size 
of a thimble. By drawing up the bucket filled with 
water, and letting the bird drink, then lowering it 
and pulling it part way up, he will soon acquire the 
habit of working at it. And, by gradually leaving 
a longer and longer length of chain between the 
bridge and the bucket, the bird will soon discover 
that he must pull the chain up into the cage, and 
hold it after it is there • and he readily comprehends 
the necessity of holding the chain with his foot. A?> 
§oon as this is done, his education is complete. 



TAMING AND TRAINING. "JJ 

Birds which are taught in this way never forget, and 
are always unhappy if out of their cage. Care 
should be taken to see that the working of the ap- 
paratus is not hard, and that it is always in order, 
otherwise a serious result might follow. A chain 
attached to a little wagon may be drawn into the 
cage and held in the same manner ; and the bird 
may be taught to ring a bell by suspending it in a 
corner of the cage, and leaving him without seed 
until he is hungry, pulling the string attached to it 
and ringing it, and putting some favorite food into 
the glass. He will soon discover, that, whenever the 
bell rings, he gets his food, and will seize the string 
and ring it whenever he is hungry. 

A few words of advice to those about purchas- 
ing a bird. All lovers of birds desire one with 
beautiful plumage, as well as one gifted with exqui- 
site powers of song. There are times when it is 
impossible to secure both advantages in one bird, 
and, when this should be the case, always select the 
bird for his beauty of song, never for plumage. In 
visiting a bird-store to make a purchase, — perhaps 
your first one, — if the dealer has a large stock, and 
there is an incessant singing, it is almost an im- 
jDOSsibility for any person to select just such a bird 
as he desires. One that the purchaser may think is 
an elegant singer may, after you have him alone, 
prove to be only a " twittering " bird, and his song 
composed of only six or eight notes. Again, you 
may select a bird for a sick friend who desires 
something quieting, — something that will sing 



78 TAMING AND TRAINING. 

"wgrds of comfort for hours of sorrow:" you may 
possibly select just such a bird ; but nine times out of 
ten you are liable to select a loud, shrill singer, whose 
notes seemingly pierce the brain. 

How are you to obtain that which you so much 
desire ? You have a friend whose bird just suits 
you ; but that particular song you cannot by any 
possibility select in a bird-store. You have but one 
resource left ; and that is, your confidence in the 
dealer : tell him plainly what you wish ; and, if he 
has such a bird, you may depend upon his giving it 
to you ; for he knows, even better than the purchaser, 
just what is required ; and he will strive to please 
you, thereby not only gaining your esteem, T^ut also 
the patronage of your friends, whom you will as- 
suredly send to "your bird-store." One source of 
great annoyance to a dealer is, after having select- 
ed such a bird, for the purchaser to turn to some 
other patron {always a perfect stranger) and ask his 
or her opinion of the bird, and then take the advice 
of a person whom they never saw before, and proba- 
bly will never see again, and select a bird which 
the dealer knows is not what is desired, and in a 
few days — a weak at furthest — return to exchange 
it ; when, by taking the dealer's first selection, and 
holding no conversation with a stranger whose 
knowledge of a bird may have been as profound as 
the bird's knowledge of him or her, thereby causing 
a " little unpleasantness " between dealer and patron, 
which was as needless as it was unnecessary. 

Many persons have an idea that a bird with clear 



TAMING AND TRAINING. 79 

yellow feathers is the best singer, while others main- 
tain that those with dark-green feathers are the best, 
and yet others think that a mottled bird is the 
best singer ; and many times it is hard to convince 
people otherwise. Upon inquiry, we find these ideas 
usually based upon the fact, that a friend of theirs 
once had a bird such and such a color, and it was 
a very fine singer, and they have been repeatedly 
told, that that colored bird was the best singer. To 
those who labor under this delusion we will simply 
state, that there are birds of every color that are in- 
ferior singers, and also those of every color that are 
very superior singers. The fact is, a bird's feath- 
ers have no more to do with his song than a lady's 
dress has to do with her voice. If a lady cannot 
sing with a plain dress, I doubt very much .whether 
a moire trimmed with real lace would give her that 
much-wished-for accomplishment. In selecting a 
cage for a bird, always look first to his comfort, 
never forgetting that he is our little caged prisoner, 
and our first duty is to make his prison-life happy. 
The canary and many other birds will live happily 
in a cage of any size or shape ; while there are 
many birds that must be confined in a flat-toj^ cage ; 
others again that must be kept in a cage the top of 
which must be of wood. The bird-dealer is always 
the best judge of the kind of cage best adapted to 
a bird's requirements ; and, if you follow his advice, 
you cannot go amiss. The improvements made in 
cages for the comfort of its occupant during the 
past three years have been very many ; and, in mak- 



80 BIRD-CAGES. 

ing these improvements, style also has been consult- 
ed. We have the beautiful moresque, the Chinese 
pagoda, the Swiss cottage, the mansard, gothic, and 
in fact styles after every order of architecture, and 
many of them are very beautiful, and certainly 
pleasing to the eye. A bird's comfort, however, 
should be consulted a little, never forgetting that 
he is your caged prisoner ; and your first thought 
always must be to make his prison life happy. 
Very few who own a 

"Little dewdrop of celestial melody" 

give a moment's thought to the fact that many of the 
song-birds require vastly different cages. A canary 
will pour forth his chant in any cage in which 
you place him. True, he loves a large cage, and 
v/ill fly from one end to the other for joy. He will 
even take a bath several times a day if the oppor- 
tunity is given him, and plume his feathers times 
without number. All this he will do, as well as eat, 
and sing occasionally. Should you keep such a 
bird for a pet, such a cage would answer every pur- 
pose : if you keep the bird for his song, then he 
must be kept in a small cage. 

Owners of feathered songsters must have ob- 
served that many of them constantly flutter their 
wings, and look up as if about to fly upwards ; others 
again look up, and turn their heads backwards, until 
you think they will fall backward, which they 
sometimes do. Did it ever occur to the owner of 
such a bird that he was not in a suitable cage .? for 



GRAVEL-PAPER AND SPRING PERCH. 8 1 

such is the fact. To those who have not studied 
this branch of natural histoiy, and buy for the first 
time a bird and cage, alwa3^s take the bird-dealer's 
advice as regards the cage. Your bird will then 
sing readily, remain quiet, and not fly as if afraid 
of his life, and ruin his plumage the first day that 
you possess him. 

Amongst the many recent patented improvements 
for a bird's comfort, none are more worthy of men- 
tion than the Singer gravel-paper, and Aldom's 
Patent spring perch. The gravel-paper is cut of 
suitable sizes to fit cages of almost every shape. 

The paper is a very superior quality of heavy ma- 
nila, and the gravel, or bird sand, is of the choicest. 
It is so placed as to loosely adhere to the paper by 
a very small quantity of paste, made from the best 
of flour, which allows the bird to pick it off very 
readily ; and this gravel is just as essential to a bird 
as his seed or bath. It also keeps the bottom of a 
cage in excellent condition; and last, though not 
least, it keeps the bird's feet perfectly clean, thereby 
keeping him, as the inventor claims, " in health and 
song." 

The Aldom spring perch is an ingenious device 
at imitating the swaying of the limb of a tree : it 
gives to the bird a very graceful appearance ; and 
is unlike the old-fashioned swing, which has broken 
so many limbs of birds. With this perch such an 
occurrence is an impossibility. An illustration can 
be seen at the end of this work. 
6 



82 CLEANING BRASS CAGES. * 

A few words more, and we say — well, never mind 
what we say until you read the last line. 

The few words are on the subject of carefully 
wrapping the paper around the cage in which he is 
taken from the store. 

There are very many people who think that a bird 
will "smother" if covered up closely. Such, how- 
ever, is not the case. A dealer knows better than 
any one else possibly can. And, if the purchaser 
would only remain quiet until the package was ready 
to deliver, he or she would always discover that the 
last thing done was to make a few small holes in the 
top to let out the hot air, but by no means let in 
cold ; if so, a bird would assuredly mUA cold. And 
lastly I will say to all who now own birds, or ever 
expect to, that all they require is suitable seed, as 
you have been informed in the body of this work, 
clean water for drinking and bathing daily, gravel- 
paper or sand on the bottom of the cage, a little 
green stuff or sweet apple, once in three or four 
weeks, — not oftener, — and iwthifig else. 

To CLEAN A BRASS, SILVER, OR GOLD PLATED CAGE, 

always wash with a sponge or piece of old towel, 
using clear cold water, and wipe dry. The surface 
of these cages being varnished, if hot water is used, 
they will have the appearance of being spattered 
with milk, which can never be removed. If they 
are scoured the same as brass ware ordinarily is, the 
varnish will be removed, and the cage commence to 
corrode, and require polishing daily. 




APPENDIX. 



THE CANARY. 



The question is asked daily, Why does my bird 
lose the feathers around his bill, and his head become 
bare ? There are two reasons for this : first, Many 
birds seem afflicted with an eruption, or skin-disease, 
which causes the feathers to drop out. Such birds 
should be fed principally upon rape-seed, and occa- 
sionally a small piece of raw carrot, of which most 
birds are very fond ; and, if a little olive-oil is at times 
put on the bare spot, the feathers will commence to 
grow more readily. Secondly, Many birds are of a 
nervous and irritable disposition, never remaining 
in one position for a single instant, but are contin- 
ually hopping to and fro against the wires of their 
cages, as if trying to get out, which is really the 
case ; and, by coming constantly in contact with the 
hard substance, they ruin their plumage. 

To those who own one of tliese birds, it would 
be well to hang it quite low, or, better still, place 
it on a table near by, where its owner can oc- 
casionally talk to, and take notice of it, and thereby 

83 



84 BIRDS BRISTLE UP. — SORE FEET. 

cause it to become accustomed to its home ; and, 
when partially quieted, bathe the bare parts with 
water into which has been placed a few drops of the 
tincture of arnica : after the soreness (if any there has 
been) disappears, use a little olive-oil, as before 
mentioned. Oftentimes 

A Bird bristles up, sits moping upon the perch, 
with his head under his wing, and looks like a puff- 
ball. If this is occasioned by the bird having diar- 
rhoea, give the remedies as directed on page 22. 
Should it be occasioned by costiveness, see, also, 
article on page 22. 

Occasionally a bird will act in this manner when 
he has neither of these complaints. Should this be 
the case, examine, first, his food, and see if he has 
been fed in a proper manner. Many times it will be 
found that it is wholly occasioned by neglect in 
not feeding the bird, and sometimes by not supplying 
sufficient water for the bird to drink. If, however, it 
should prove that the bird has plenty of food, and is 
perfectly regular, then make a change in his food, 
taking away the seed, and feeding the soft food, as 
described on page 26 ; and perhaps a small piece of 
Sweet apple may be found beneficial. Birds will at 
times be afflicted with 

Sore Feet. — This malady is usually occasioned by 
using a very small perch, and also by not using suffi- 
cient gravel for the bird to keep his feet clean. The 
perches for a canary, or other bird of similar size, should 
never be less than seven-sixteenths of an inch in diam- 
eter, and even larger ; and for a mocking-bird, and all 



WILL NOT BATHE. 85 

birds of his size, perches of three-quarters to seven- 
eighths of an inch in diameter are far preferable. With 
such perches, and plenty of gravel, a bird will seldom 
have sore feet. Should he, however, be so troubled, 
the best remedy is a bath of warm water, to which a 
little tincture of arnica has been added. Occasion- 
ally we are told that a bird 

Will not Bathe, and asked how we can make it. 
In reply, I can only say that I have never yet, in an ex- 
perience of nearly twenty-five years, seen a bird that 
will not bathe. True, some will not enter a bath-dish, 
as we would wish them to, and will persist in putting 
their heads into their drinking-cups or fountains in- 
stead, and, after wetting their head, push it through 
their feathers, and then, with their bill, thoroughly clean 
themselves ; which is very like the person who uses 
the " wet end of a towel," instead of taking a proper 
ablution : for this there is no help ; and we can only 
hope, that, with age, they Will discover the beauties of a 
toilet which can only be arranged after a first-class bath. 

Those who raise birds are often annoyed by the 
male, and sometimes by the female bird 

Eating the Eggs as soon as they are laid ; and, of 
course, all bird-raisers are anxious to know how to pre- 
vent it. It usually occurs from improper feeding. Birds 
that are mated require rich food ; and this rich food 
should be given for three to four weeks previous to 
mating them. When this is done, it is very rare 
that the eggs are disturbed. The richest and best 
food that can be' made, and the manner of making, is 
fully described on page 26. 



S6 ANNOYING SETTING BIRDS. 

Another source of great annoyance to bird-breeders 
is the fact, that, occasionally, the old birds desert the 
young, and leave them to starve. This I never knew 
to occur where birds were placed in a suitable place, 
as described on page 27, and always fed and cared for 
by the same person. It is the constant annoyance to 
which a bird is subjected that occasions this. To 
those who have had this ill-luck, it is usually the fault 
of themselves. They take great pride in tha birds 
they are prospectively going to raise ; and, as soon as 
they are from the egg, the cage is taken down on all 
occasions, and shown to every visitor ; and, when it 
is too much trouble to take it down, the step-ladder, a 
chair, or table is brought into action in order to 
show up the bird-family ; and then the bird-dealers 
are asked the question, " Why did my old bird desert 
the young before they were a week old ? " Those who 
have had this ill-luck doubtless see wherein success 
in the future awaits them. Occasionally there is no 
apparent cause for the old birds deserting the young. 
When such proves to be the case, and the old birds 
are very good ones, it is always well to bring the 
young up by hand, using the food described above, 
and using a quill with a small, piece cut from one 
side, similar to the old-fashioned quill-pen. It can 
then be used as a spoon ; and, with three or four 
such spoonfuls, feed them every hour, and not feed 
oftener than once an hour, using judgment in not 
over-feeding the birds. It is always a good rule to 
take the nest from the cage, and keep the young 
birds in it, covering them over slightly, until they are 



BATHING WHILE MATED. 8/ 

well feathered. They should then be fed as is de- 
scribed for young birds on page 26. The question is 
repeatedly asked, 

" Do Birds Bathe whilst Mated ? " We can 
only say, that some do, and some do not. It is 
always well to give a bird its bath, and leave it to 
the bird's judgment whether to bathe or not. It 
has always been the wish of all bird-fanciers to 
introduce, if possible, into this country, the king of 
songsters of the Old World, — the 

English Nightingale. — Improper feeding, and 
other causes, have seemed, so far, to render it almost 
an impossibility to keep one of these birds more than 
a few months ; and, for the benefit of the lovers of 
this bird, we will give an extract from a letter from 
Mr. George B.' Pearson of Beverle}', Mass. He 
says, — 

" I have always kept this bird in one place ; fed 
him on Reiche's Prepared (bottle) Mocking-bird Food 
and ants' eggs, mixed half and half This he has had 
for six days of the week ; and, on the seventh day, I 
have grated on a horseradish-grater common yellow 
tuurnip, and mixed this with an equal quantity of 
ants' eggs ; and, during the season of moulting, I 
have fed him six to eight meal-worms per day. With 
this treatment, he fully moulted in five weeks, and 
commenced singing at once. I have always been 
very particular to keep his cage, perches, and feeding- 
dish very clean ; have used gravel (sand) in the cage 
freely, and given him his bath daily ; and I see no 
reason why, if the same rule is followed, that any 



SS SKY-LARK AND ENGLISH SPARROW. 

bird cannot be kept in health and song for many 
years." The article on the 

Sky and Wood Lark, on page 39, does not make 
mention of the bird's habits as regards cleanliness. 
It is very rare that one of the birds will take a bath, 
. -much preferring — like domestic fowls — to dust 
themselves ; and for this reason sand or gravel must 
be used very freely, and always kept in the cage to 
the depth of not less than half an inch. The lark 
requires what is known as the lark-cage, and will 
not do well in any other. It is a low-priced cage, 
and can always be purchased at any bird-store. 

A very general desire for all obtainable information 
in regard to the 

English Sparrow has brought to light the sta- 
tistics of a celebrated English author, Mr. Bradley, 
who, in his " General Treatise on Husbandry and 
Gardening," shows that a pair of sparrows, during 
the time they have their young to feed, destroy 
on an average, every week, 3,360 caterpillars. This 
calculation he founded upon actual observation. He 
discovered that the two parents carried to the nest 
.forty caterpillars in an hour. He supposed the spar- 
rows to enter the nest only during twelve hours each 
day, which would cause a daily consumption of 480 
caterpillars. This sum gives 3,360 caterpillars ex- 
tirpated weekly from a single garden. When you 
add to this the tens of thousands of the army and 
canker worms, the fruit-moth, slug, Hessian fly, and 
legions of other insects that sting our fruit, all of 
which the sparrow devours, then, and not until then, 
wili you know his value. 



SOFT FOOD FOR BIRDS. 89 

Food for a canar}^, when ailing, or when mated, 
or suitable to feed to young birds when they are 
brought up by hand, will be found on page 26. There 
is no better food for the mocking-bird than Reiche's, 
as noticed on page 43. Occasionally a food made as 
follows is beneficial : — 

One hard-boiled egg grated on a coarse grater ; of 
raw carrot, grated the same way, about the same 
quantity as of the egg; and of cracker rolled fine, 
as described on page 26, sufficient to take up the 
moisture, — about one cracker and a half This 
makes a good food ; and it is of advantage to feed it 
part of the time in summer, and during moulting, as 
it acts as a mild cathartic on the bird, and it can also 
be fed to all soft-bill birds. 

Occasionally a bird's limbs will be covered with 
scales, particularly an old bird's. The best way to 
remove this is to moisten the limb with quite warm 
milk ; and a slight rubbing with the thumb and 
fore-finger back and forth will cause it to peel off. 
Care should tbe taken, however, not to break the 
under-skin. 

Swollen and Sore Limbs are greatly relieved, 
and oftentimes a permanent cure effected, by bathing 
the affected parts with diluted tincture of arnica. 

Trapping Birds. — Bird-dealers are constantly 
receiving orders and calls for " bird-lime." This arti- 
cle is made from the inside bark- of the holly, — a. tree 
almost unknown in this country, though very plentiful 
in England. A substitute for this can be made by 
boihng linseed -oil away to about one-third the 



90 TRAPPING BIRDS. — SAFFRON. 

quantity you start with. It is a very dangerous 
operation, and should never be done in a house, its 
explosive qualities being fully equal to gunpowder. It 
will make a very strong bird-lime, and hold any small 
bird that lights upon a twig that has been smeared 
with it. Unless, however, the trapper is near at hand 
to remove the bird at once, he becomes besmeared all 
over his body and wings ; and it is almost impossible 
to remove it until the bird moults, thereby, for the 
time being, ruining the sale of it. A far better way 
is with a trap-cage, and a bird for a caller ; and, if 
you can obtain a blind bird, he will sit quietly, and 
call all day long, and many, very many more birds 
can be taken than if the bird had his sight. 

Saffron as a Medicine for birds seems to be 
almost in universal use, though why it is used is more 
than the author has ever been able to ascertain from 
those using it, more than that " My folks used to use 
it ; " and they presume that the bird required it. The 
medicinal property of saffron is diaphoretic, and 
used mostly to color and flavor other medicines. 
When chewed, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, 
though a pleasant, aromatic flavor. It is not impos- 
sible that its bitter taste to the bird may give an 
increased appetite, which, perhaps, the bird needed, 
and in that way health is restored. The author, 
however, has discovered no medicinal property in it, 
excepting that of a cathartic ; and, as such, it is very 
good. But quiet to the bird is the best remedy ; and 
it is best obtained by covering the bird up quite 
closely on the first appearance of ailment. 




ADVERTISEMENT. 



MESSRS. CHARLES REICHE & BROTHER' 

Are receiving from Europe two importations weekly of all the 
Rare and Choice Birds of Song named in the body of 
this work, and many others, highly prized both for their excel- 
lence of song and beauty of plumage. 

They also keep constantly on hand a full and large assort- 
ment of American birds. They are also the only dealers in 
Animals in this country, and regularly supply all the great 
showmen, and also take orders for private game-parks or 
zoological gardens. 

Messrs. Reiche & Brother were the originators of the 
celebrated Prepared Food for Mocking and all other soft- 
billed birds. They are also wholesale and retail dealers in 
seeds of all kinds, and keep constantly on hand cages of 
every description, and every other article connected with a 
first-class bird-store. 

The public are respectfully invited to examine our stock. 



Charles Reiche, Alfeld, Germany. 
Henry Reiche, 55 Chatham Street, New York, 
Charles F. Holden, 9 Bowdoin Square, Boston. 

91 



PATENTED 

April 14, 1863; Feb. 28, 1865; Sept. 27, 1870; May 9, 1871 ; 

Sept. 5, 1871 ; Sept. 5, 1871 ; March 26, 1872; 

July 30, 1872. 









h 



m 



1 






'^tiigfiiiw^' 



Three doors West of Broadway, 



NEW YORK. 



SOLE MANUFACTURERS OF THE CELEBRATED 



u 



OSBORN" CAGES, 



FOR BIRDS AND ANIMALS. 



PLATED AND BRIGHT METAL CAGES. 



ALVAN DRAYTON, General Agent. 



LIBERAL DISCOUNT TO THE TRADE. 



SINGER'S PATENT 

GRAVEL PAPER, 

FOR THE 

BOTTOM OF BIRD-CAGES, 

T^REVENTS filth, disease, sore feet, and vermin. Forms 
•*- an artificial ground for the bird to scratch and pick in. 
Saves time and trouble, and keeps the bird in health and 

SOnGT. 



Put up in the following sizes : — 



Round, 8j inches diameter. 



Round, 9| inches diameter. 

10 " 
Square, lO inches by lo inches. 



600 packages of any special size made to order. 



PRICE LIST. 

We will hereafter designate 12 packages, of 12 papers each, 
a dozen ; price to the trade $1.80 : 144 packages, a gross ; 
price $2t,6o; &c. Parties, in ordering, will be careful to state 
the exact quantity of each size they require. 

CAUTION. — Be careful not to purchase infringements,' 

AS WE SHALL PROTECT OUR PATENT. 

SINGER GRAVEL PAPER CO., 

583 HUDSON STREET, NEW YORK. 



G. GUNTHER, ' 

No. 108 WILLIAM STREET, 
NEW-YORK CITY, 



MANUFACTURER OF THE 



Improved Japanned Bird-Cages, 

WITH RECENTLY-PATENTED FASTENING, 
which prevents that great annoyance, 

THE BOTTOM DROPPING OFF. 



Also Exclusive Manufacturer of 

Brass Cages with Spring-Door 

AND SPRINa-CATCHES FOR THE CUPS, 

The arrangement of which renders it impossible to ever lose 
a bird, as 

ALL THE OPENINGS ARE SELF-CLOSING. 

FIRST PREMIUM AWARDED AT THE VIENNA EXPOSITION. 

ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES SENT ON APPLICATION. 



ESTABLISHED IN 1848. 



0. LINDEMANN & CO., 



MANUFACTURERS OP 



yapanned and Patent Bright Metal 

BIRD-CAGES. 




Patented Oct, 4, 1870 ; Nov. 7, 1871 ; March 12, 1872. 
Re-issued Oct. 29, 1872. 



OFFICE AND SALESROOM : 

Ho. 254 Pearl Street, New York. 



Factory, Nos. 252, 254, & 256 Pearl Street. 



HILDRETH & RICE, 



MANUFACTURERS OF 



IVooden Bird-Cages, 

No. 16 MIDDLE STREET,' 



LOWELL, MASS. 



CAGES ADAPTED TO ALL KINDS OF BIRDS. 



MOCKING-BIRD AND BREEDING GAGES 

A SPECIALTY. 

H. A. HILDRETH. F. E. RICE. 



